Girl, 7, and woman hurt in dog attack

A seven year-old girl has had emergency surgery after being bitten by a dog as she played outside on Merseyside.

The girl suffered injuries to her arm and leg on Dulas Green, Kirkby, just before 18:00 BST on Thursday, police said.

A 22-year-old woman was also bitten on her leg, arm and hand as she tried to remove the dog from the child before it was contained by neighbours. Both remain in hospital in a stable condition.

Two men have been arrested and the dog, believed to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, has been seized.

Insp Louie Lyons said it was "a horrific attack which has left a young child requiring emergency surgery for a number of serious injuries".

"We have seized the dog and extensive efforts are under way to establish exactly what happened," she said.

"I want to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident, who may have information, to come forward as soon as possible."

Officers also seized cannabis plants from a nearby house, the force said.

A 54-year-old man, from Southdene, Kirkby has been arrested on suspicion of being the owner or person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, and production of a Class B drug cannabis.

A 23-year-old man, also from Southdene, Kirkby has been arrested on suspicion of being the owner or person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

They remain in custody for questioning.

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