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Queen Camilla's son has issued a new update about how his tiny pooch was brutally attacked by a 10-stone mastiff last week in London. Tom Parker Bowles spoke about how "all hell broke loose" when a large dog, allegedly a Cane Corso, a large Italian breed of mastiff, spotted his Jack Russel Terrier Maud, when the pair was walking near them.

He said: "The dog's walker was no match for the 10st of brute muscle and he was pulled off his feet in a second, dragged behind the beast, then under it, like a cowboy thrown from his horse. I tried to block the dog and pick up Maud, but the aggressor was simply too fast." The food writer added: "Within moments, the mastiff had his jaws locked deep into my tiny, less-than-one-stone terrier, who was shrieking with terror. Then came the most heartrending cry of pain. At this point, my memory goes rather hazy."

Mr Parker Bowles explained how "instinct took over" and he wanted to get "this brute off my dog". He said: " I knew Maud would be finished if the attacker could lift its head to shake her like a rag, or crush her like a furry Twiglet."

He then explained: "I launched myself onto the dog, desperately trying to undo his jaws, which were locked, vice-like, on her soft white belly.

"It's the small things I remember: the mist on the glasses of its walker, and his look of absolute terror, trapped beneath his dog; the sweet, mildly fetid smell of the attacking dog's breath on my face; the stickiness of its saliva, as I tried desperately, like a pot-bellied Tarzan, to wrench open those jaws; the pure brute power of the beast and the shininess of his coat."

The Queen's son said the incident had crowds gathered around him as he fought with the large canine, with one gentleman even allegedly whacking the dog with his walking stick.

He then said: "It felt like the assault lasted for hours. In truth, it was probably no longer than 30 seconds.

"I think, in the end, I must have kicked the wretched beast in the balls and it loosened its grip for one moment.

"Maud was free and in my arms. She was also a mess of blood and flesh and fur, a great gaping wound slashed across her right-hand side, with deep, sinister puncture marks where the incisors had penetrated her skin."

Mr Parker Bowles's pooch, who weighs a little less than one stone, underwent two surgeries and is now on the mend. However, she may still bear psychological scars as well as those from her injuries.

The Queen's son said he does not want Maud's attacker put down, but made a rallying cry for dog owners to be more responsible.

He said: "I don't want the dog who attacked Maud put down, nor do I want to press charges.

"What I do want, though, is these big, powerful and often beautiful dogs to be muzzled when out in public. Is that too much to ask? I'm certainly not a fan of knee-jerk legislation, of banning certain breeds, or having them destroyed. I'd much rather put the responsibility on the owner.

"If you cannot control your dogs, or train, walk and look after them properly, then you have no right to own a dog. It's as simple as that."

He concluded: "Maud is now on the mend, I hope, though not totally out of the woods yet. There is a very real prospect of further surgery."