Last Updated: 1:30pm GMT 01/01/2007

A five-year-old girl has died after being attacked by a dog in her family home early this morning, police have said.

Ellie Lawrenson suffered fatal injuries when she was attacked by what was believed to be a pit bull terrier at her house in Eccleston, St Helen's.

The dog also attacked a woman, thought to be the girl's grandmother. Despite her injuries, the woman managed to shut the dog in a run outside the house. She is being treated for serious injuries in hospital.

Dog handlers and armed response officers went to the house where they destroyed the dog immediately.

Superintendent Jon Ward said: "Of utmost importance in such incidents is the safety of the public and of police officers.
advertisement

"With that in mind, we were left with no other option but to have the animal destroyed quickly and humanely.

"Officers are with the family and our sympathies are with them at this time."

Telegraph.co.uk

Why on earth would anyone choose to keep one of these things?

The type of dog involved in this attack is illegal in this country. The owner, the uncle of the dead girl, has apparently been warned a couple of times about the dog. I just find it amazing that anyone in his right mind would want to keep such an animal. :sad:

Terrible to read about this. I was going to ask about the laws in the UK about keeping these types of dogs but you have answered above. If he was warned before about the dog, why didn't the authorities take action?