Girl stable after attack by 30 dogs

Beverley Hirst, aged nine, was in a stable condition in hospital after being attacked by a pack of about 30 dogs while walking close to her home at Pickmere, near Northwich in Cheshire.

Most of the dogs were seized by police and later destroyed at their owner's request.

The girl suffered injuries to her face, neck and abdomen after the dogs, which came from a farm, pulled her to the ground. She was transferred from a local hospital to the Alderhey children's hospital, Liverpool, where she underwent surgery.

Police said that Beverley's 12-year-old sister had been with her at the time of the attack on Saturday, but she was not hurt.