A girl of four was savagely attacked by a neighbours American bulldog and needed hospital treatment in Hartlepool, Teesside.

Faye Moran was playing at her neighbour’s house on Pope Grove in Hartlepool on 20th March, when the dog turned on her and bit her in the face, causing injuries to her lip and chin. The youngster was rushed to the University Hospital of North Tees were she was treated for her injuries with stitches to her lip and chin.

Faye’s mother, Sarah, says she is recovering well at home but said her injuries could have been far more serious. She said: “It could have been a lot worse. A couple of inches down her neck, and it would have her throat. She wouldn’t be sitting here now.” She admits she was frantic when she was told of the attack. She added “I was screaming down the phone for the ambulance. There was a lot of blood. I couldn’t look at first because I was just scared.”

Police were also called to the incident and acting Inspector, Mark Howorth, said that the dog had been destroyed since the attack. He said: “It had bitten the four-year-old girl in the face causing injury to her lower lip and side of her head. The four-year-old was taken to hospital, treated and detained. She has had damage to her lips, that has been repaired, and she had stitches under her chin. The owner, a female, was very concerned that the dog had caused injuries to a child and instantly allowed police to seize the dog and gave permission for it to be destroyed. There is an ongoing police investigation. It is not acceptable to have dogs that can cause injuries to a child.”

Doctors discharged Faye from the hospital and said it is not yet known whether she will require plastic surgery, or if her scars will be permanent.

Her mother said: “We don’t hold any grudges because it was just a freak accident.”