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A man repeatedly punched a police dog as it assisted officers with an arrest following reports of an assault and a theft, Scotland Yard have said.

Two officers and police dog Ernie had been chasing a suspect in West Drayton, west London, on Tuesday night when the alleged incident took place.

A man was arrested on suspicion of robbery, resisting arrest, common assault, and animal cruelty.

At around 10.20pm, police were alerted to reports of an assault in Hayes, in which a woman was allegedly hit in the back of the head and punched in her right arm.

Officers were called again about an hour later to reports of an attempted robbery on a bus in a nearby road.

Another woman said a man had repeatedly tried to take her phone, before getting off the bus and running away.

The Met's dog unit was deployed and a man was later chased in West Drayton.

The two officers and Ernie apprehended the man, who officers said "struggled and repeatedly punched the dog".

The suspect was arrested and taken to hospital for treatment after he was bitten by the police dog, but his injuries were said to be minor.

The suspect has been released under investigation.

Superintendent Emma Richards said she was "incredibly proud" of the officers and Ernie.

"Violence against anyone - whether it is a member of the public, a police officer or police animal - is completely unacceptable and this should send a clear message that we will take such acts of violence seriously," she said.

"The Met's Dog Support Unit do an amazing job of protecting the public, apprehending offenders and taking dangerous weapons off the streets on a daily basis and this is just one example of their great work."