Bull terrier savages seven-year-old

A young boy was recovering in hospital today after being attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier.

The seven-year-old received bites to his legs and buttocks during the incident in Killingworth, North Tyneside, police said.

Northumbria Police said the boy was being treated at North Tyneside District Hospital but his injuries were not life threatening.

A woman was also injured in the incident, which happened at an address in Garth Twenty Seven yesterday.

The dog was later destroyed.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "At 6.54pm yesterday police received a report that a child had been attacked by a dog at an address in North Tyneside.

"Police attended the address at Garth Twenty Seven in Killingworth and found a seven-year-old boy had suffered injuries to his legs and buttocks.

"He was taken to North Tyneside General Hospital for treatment. The injuries are not life threatening.

"A second child at the address was uninjured while an adult suffered bites to her left leg.

"The dog, believed to be a Staffordshire bull terrier, was subsequently destroyed. Inquiries are ongoing into this incident."