Four-year-old girl bitten by dog in Brighton

The dog is described as a Staffy-type that was off the lead with two similar dogs

The owner of a dog described as 'Staffy-like' is being hunted by police in Brighton (Getty Images)

Police are hunting for the owner of a "Staffy-type" dog after a four-year-old girl was bitten in the face in Brighton.

The girl was outside shops with her sister at around 6.30pm on 9 April when the dog bit her and caused a single puncture wound to her upper lip.

She was treated at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton.

The dog is described as a Staffy-type that was off the lead with two similar dogs, two black and one white.

They were with a man described as white, in his 50s, with bright purple hair and a brown moustache.

In March a 23-year-old man was charged under the dangerous dogs act after a 64-year-old woman in Cardiff died when she was attacked by a dog.

Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident or recognises the description of the owner or the dogs to email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 1287 of 09/04