Boy, 9, rushed to hospital after being bitten in the face by dog

WARNING: Graphic image below

Police have launched an appeal after a nine-year-old boy was bitten in the face by a dog.

The boy was left with a large deep cut on his upper lip after the attack in Stoke-on-Trent.

Staffordshire Police said the incident happened at about 5.45pm on Wednesday, 20 April on Belgrave Road in the Dresden area.

He was taken to hospital after the attack.

Police want to speak to the owner of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier in connection with the attack.

They said the suspected owner of the dog is a white woman, about 5ft 6in tall, in her late 30s to early 40s, who is of a slim build with light brown shoulder length hair.

Police said she was wearing sunglasses on her head at the time of the incident.

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She was with a man at the time, the force said, described as white, about 6ft tall, in his 40s, of medium build with grey crew cut hair and a full grey beard.

In a statement, Staffordshire Police said: "Officers are appealing for information after a nine-year-old boy was bitten by a dog in Stoke-on-Trent.

"At approximately 5.45pm on Wednesday, 20 April, a boy was bitten on the face by a dog on Belgrave Road, Dresden, at the rear of Belgrave St Bartholomew’s Academy.

"He suffered facial injuries and was transported to hospital for treatment.

"Police are conducting enquiries locally and would like to speak to the owner of a large brown/ginger coloured Staffordshire Bull Terrier."

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Anyone with any information can message Staffordshire Police on 101, Facebook or Twitter, quoting incident 679 of 20 April.

Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.