A dog owner has been told her animals must be muzzled and put on leads at all times in public.

Magistrates spared the life of Carol Jane Gowing's Labradoodle, named Tula, after it attacked a member of the public - but they said measures needed to be taken to guarantee the safety of others.

Prosecutor Lee Darce told the court how the victim was walking to her car at Warcop, near Appleby, on the morning of February 22, when she saw the pensioner's car with three dogs in.

Tula, an eight-year-old cream-coloured bitch, ran after and bit the woman. Two of Gowing's other dogs - both Labradoodles - also ran towards her, though they caused no injury.

Mr Darce said: "They ran towards her in an aggressive manner. One bit her on the back of the leg."

Gowing, 74, of The Square, Warcop, Appleby, whistled to the dogs and said they ran back within 40 seconds.

She pleaded guilty to three charges of being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog, but said this was out of character. She added: "It was opportunistic but it won't happen again."

The bench was handed letters from vets, friends and family regarding her dogs' nature.

Presiding magistrate Marcia Fotheringham said they considered Gowing to be a fit and proper person to be a dog owner.

"I know there is more than enough information here to say they are not a danger to the public but this incident happened and there is a potential for them to be a danger to the public," she said. "We certainly preferred that option [muzzling] than saying the dogs needed to be put down."

Magistrates also said the dogs must be on fixed leads and unable to jump straight from the car, which is something the owner had already started to do.

Gowing has owned dogs all her life and has bred them for 30 years. She said she had never experienced anything like this before and would like to apologise to the victim.

The court heard how she was "very remorseful and very co-operative with the police".

She was fined £595 and ordered to pay £85 costs, a £30 victim surcharge and £200 compensation.