Police have been called in over a dog wars row amid allegations of an out-of-control pet and 'frightening' social network comments.

At the heart of the row are Dougal, a Bichon Frise, and Daisy, a terrier, who were involved in a dog-on-dog clash in Royal Avenue Gardens, Dartmouth.

Now Daisy's 87-year-old owner Maria Hume has agreed to keep her pet muzzled when she is out walking her in the town.

Meanwhile, Dougal's owners Christine and John Smither have agreed to take down comments posted by third parties on their Facebook page, after claims they were of a 'threatening' nature.

Police have spoken to both owners following last week's confrontation between the two dogs.

PC Roger Hewitt said: 'I have been looking at a complaint that has been made about Miss Hume and her dog Daisy and I am meeting with her to try to resolve things without seeking a legal process.'

He added: 'Comments have also been made on Facebook which are unhelpful. I have spoken to Mr and Mrs Smither and the comments have been removed.'

Mr and Mrs Smither, who run a bed and breakfast business in the town, claimed their dog had been attacked by Miss Hume's dog on four separate occasions in the last year.

Mrs Smither said on the last occasion the couple were in Royal Avenue Gardens with Dougal when Daisy had come at their pet 'like a missile' and even when she had picked Dougal up, she claimed, the terrier kept jumping up, trying to get at him.

Later comments appeared in a Facebook conversation about the incident, including one which declared: 'Go Chrissie. I hope you ripped her throat out, and the dog too.'

Roger Dunn, a close friend of Miss Hume, said the retired hotel owner had been 'terrified' after learning of the comments.

'She is a defeated woman,' he said.

He said that following a visit by police this week Miss Hume had agreed to muzzle Daisy whenever she takes her for walks.

'Because she is frail and Daisy is a strong dog and can snatch away from her when out on a lead, Daisy has to have muzzle,' he said. 'However, she will not have to be muzzled when she is out on a lead with me.'

Mrs Smither said police had spoken to her husband about the Facebook comments and as a result had removed one comment.

'They didn't like me posting things on Facebook because of the comments that came back. I removed one comment because I did not think it was very nice. I am not responsible for what other people put up.'