What would Petra say? Peter Purves bitten by a dog

Former Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves' good relationship with the canine world took a surprising turn today when one of lovable pooches turned moody and bit the 69-year-old.

Purves was admitted to hospital after he was bitten between his finger and thumb by a small dog at the All About Dogs Day in Norwich.

One man and his dog: Peter Purves, his sore hand and one of the prize pooches at the All About Dogs Day contest in Norwich

Purves was left needing stiches in his hand after he was attacked by a terrier as he judged the handsomest dogs contest.

Ouch: Peter Purves received stitches and a tetanus jab after he was bitten by a moody terrier

But despite his injury, Purves was determined the show should go on and quickly returned to the Notcutts Garden Centre after receiving treatment.

Purves, who own fours dogs, said: 'It is a deep puncture and you can't stitch those sort of things, so they have put a band round it.

'I was judging the Scrufts competition, which is for non-pedigree dogs, and I was just looking at the third dog, which was a cross-breed terrier.

'I looked at its teeth, and as I went to look at its ear, it brought its head round and bit me.

'I have got some antibiotics and had a tetanus injection and it is fine now. I came back here and finished judging, so I've done all the judging I need to do for the day now.'

Purves has been associated with dogs ever since his days on Blue Peter in the 1970s.

During his 11 years on the show, he was responsible for various pets, and developed a fondness to one dog in particular, a German Shepherd cross called Petra.

He has also been involved with the annual Crufts dog show over the last 30 years.

Purves was recently in the headlines after his former Blue Peter co-presenter Valerie Singleton suggested the couple had had a fling during their days on the show.

Furry friend: Peter Purves with his Blue Peter dog Petra in 1972