Boy, 2, bitten by dog in Morecambe (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Boy, 2, bitten by dog in Morecambe

11:37am Wednesday 5th October 2011 in Heysham news

A two-year-old boy was bitten on the head by a dog in Morecambe yesterday, police said.

Officers said the boy was walking with his mum when he was attacked in Westminster Road, near to Bargain Booze.

He went to stroke the loose dog, believed to be a Staffordshire bull terrier, which bit him.

His mum kicked the dog away and it ran off in the direction of Hampton Road and Balmoral Road.

The boy was taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary where puncture wounds to his head were bandaged and was given injections and antibiotics.

He has since returned home to Heysham.

Police and dog wardens are trying to find the dog, which had no collar on and is described as brindle-coloured - brown with bits of gold.

PC Andy Taylor from Morecambe Police said: "This is a serious incident which could have been far worse had the boy's mother not taken action and kicked the dog to release her child.

"I would appeal to anybody that has seen this dog in or around the Westminster Road area or believes they know who the owner is to contact police.

"I would also urge people to be vigilant and to exercise caution as this dog could still be loose in the area.

"We believe the dog is likely to live locally and if anyone does see this dog I would ask people not to approach it but to call police immediately."