A four year old boy has been mauled to death by a dog in Liverpool.
Merseyside Police are investigating the incident that happened in the early hours of this morning.
Emergency services were called at 00.24am to reports of a 4-year-old boy being attacked by a dog at a family address on Ashgrove, Wavertree.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "The child suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.
A 63-year-old woman, who it is believed to have suffered injuries as she separated the dog from the child, was taken to hospital where she is currently being treated.
Dog handlers and armed response officers attended the scene and, after an initial safety assessment, it was decided that the dog be destroyed. An assessment to establish the type of dog involved is ongoing.
Chief Superintendent Steve Ashley, said: "This is a tragic incident and a full and thorough investigation will be carried out in to the circumstances surrounding this young boy's death. Officers are with the family and our sympathies are with them at this time.
"Of utmost importance in such incidents is the safety the public and of police officers.
"When officers arrived at the address the dog was in an agitated state in the front garden of the property and was deemed to be a danger to the public. As a result we were left with no other option but to have the animal destroyed quickly and humanely."
Police said "extensive investigations" are continuing into the incident.
peter, bt488lj around 10 months, 4 weeks ago