Police shoot dead two 'dangerously out of control' pitbull-type dogs

A 60-year-old woman was bitten on the hand and a man on the leg, police say

A pitbull-type dog that was shot dead by police in Bolton (Alan Yates/Twitter)

Armed police shot dead two "dangerously out of control" pitbull-type dogs after they bit members of the public in the streets of Bolton.

Emergency services arrived on the scene in the Queens Park neighbourhood to find a "60-year-old woman suffered a bite to the hand, a man was bitten on the leg and a dog suffered serious injuries," Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

"Armed response officers were deployed to the scene and two dogs were humanely destroyed and two dogs have been seized," they said, adding that six dogs had reportedly been on the loose.

A 38-year-old man, understood to be the owner, was arrested on suspicion of affray and allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in public.

Witnesses captured the incident on social media.

They claimed the man was sobbing as he was led away in handcuffs.

Superintendent Chris Allsop said: ”Highly trained officers responded quickly to the scene and took control to avoid the situation from escalating.

“The officers acted with our number one priority in mind; to protect people and prevent them from harm."