Boy Has Surgery After Face Torn Apart By Dog

A two-year-old Swindon boy viciously attacked by a dog has undergone surgery after one of his ears and part of his nose were torn off.

The child suffered serious facial injuries when he was mauled apparently by a Staffordshire bull terrier in a neighbour's back garden on Sunday evening.

It is believed the boy, named locally as Keiron Guess, also had serious damage to one of his eyes.

Police said the toddler's parents were at his bedside at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

The child was found by his 49-year-old grandfather, who suffered an injury to his arm while trying to fight the animal off.

He had rushed to help his grandson at the terraced house in Swanage Walk, Swindon, after he heard screaming.

The youngster's other grandfather, Shaun Leonard, told The Sun the boy had been disfigured by the attack.

"The dog bit off most of his nose. His left eye was hanging out," he was quoted as saying.

"His face was in two bits but they have stitched him together. They put him in an induced coma after the surgery."

It is understood the dog was put down following the incident and no one has been arrested in connection with the attack, Wiltshire Police said.

Staffordshire bull terriers are not listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act .

Battersea Dogs And Cats Home say Staffies, as they are known, are also nicknamed "the nanny dog for (their) affinity with children" despite being originally bred for fighting, rat catching and badger baiting.