AN elderly man was taken to hospital after being bitten by a dog. 

The man, aged 81, was at the junction of Rayne Road in Braintree at around 5pm on Saturday when he bent down to stroke the dog.

The dog jumped up and bit his right hand. 

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "The victim suffered a large cut to his hand which required hospital treatment.

"No-one has been arrested and enquiries are continuing."

A spokesman for the Ambulance Service said: "An ambulance and a rapid response vehicle attended and treated a man with a hand injury.

"He was taken to Broomfield Hospital for further care."