A Scots delivery driver who has been mauled by dogs four times has issued a plea to pet owners in the run-up to Christmas.
Seasoned courier Glen Morgan has worked for parcel delivery company Hermes for eight years.
He's been attacked by dogs in four separate incidents during that time.
The frustrated 55-year-old says he's been bitten on the hand three times after putting his hand through customers' letterboxes.
The first incident six years ago left Glen needing stitches at hospital, where he also had to get a tetanus injection.
He was even been bitten on the leg by a dog that escaped when its owner opened the door.
The most recent attack happened on Saturday, December 4, and left Glen bleeding heavily from injuries sustained on his hand.
Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: "I had been at a customer's door to deliver my parcel but there was no answer.
"I had left the delivery in a safe place and written out the slip to let them know.
"I had put the slip through the letterbox and that's when the dog got a hold of my fingers."
Glen, from Erskine, was left with four painful puncture wounds in his right hand.
The 55-year-old, who had been delivering in his local area at the time, was aware the dog was potentially aggressive.
He explained: "Anytime the customer has answered the door in the past, the dog is always barking.
"They're always holding the dog or putting the dog away.
"On this occasion, they never answered and the dog never barked so I had assumed they had been out walking it.
"But obviously not.
"It got a hold of three of my fingers somehow.
"I yanked my hand back through the letter box, which is how I think I got the big long scratches.
"I think the dog's face has maybe hit the letterbox and let go. There was a lot of blood on my hand after it."
Glen will now have to warn the customer he will be unable to deliver to their property until a letterbox guard is installed.
He added: "The first time I was bitten six years ago, it came as a fright. That was the one that required hospital treatment and I had to get a tetanus injection at that point.
"I'm still covered for tetanus, so I didn't have to go to the hospital this time.
"Most recently, that was the third time I'd been bitten on the hand. Another time a dog came running out and bit me on the leg when the customer opened the door."
The 55-year-old reveals he now usually uses a pen to push slips through the customers' door for fear of getting bitten again.
But he says not all dogs bark - making it difficult to know when some animals are waiting to pounce.
He has now issued a plea to owners to make it safer for couriers and posties to deliver to their homes.
Glen, who believes his experiences were easily avoidable, pleaded: "If you've got a dog in the house just make it safe for us to deliver your stuff, put a letterbox guard up.
"We're at more risk in the run-up to Christmas because we're at more people's doors and delivering to houses we've never been to before, so we don't know the situation inside the house.
"I get that some people turn around and say 'the dog is just protecting my property' but how are we supposed to do our job?"
The experienced courier says he's even seen pictures of fellow delivery workers losing fingers in similar incidents.
"There's every chance you end up with a dog sitting behind that letterbox that just won't let go of your fingers.
"I've been lucky I've only had three hand bites but it could be more serious.
"But if there's was a guard up, I wouldn't have to worry about it", he said.
