A seven-year-old girl suffered multiple injuries after she was mauled by an ‘XL bully’ dog at a park.

The child was playing with friends when she was brutally bitten by the animal in Merseyside yesterday evening.

Police described it as a ‘horrific attack’ and seized the dog at the scene – but are now hunting down its owner.

Officers were called to the incident in Gorsedale Park in Wallasey, near Liverpool, at around 8.30pm.

The little girl was rushed to hospital with bite marks on her legs and a cut to her head.

She has since been discharged after receiving treatment.

It’s understood the dog was an XL bully, which is not a banned breed in the UK.

Cops are now appealing for witnesses to come forward, having already made a number of enquiries. 

Detective inspector Emma Kerrigan said: ‘This was a horrific attack which has left a young girl receiving hospital treatment for injuries to her head and legs. 

‘I want to reassure people that she received the best possible care and treatment for her injuries, and we hope she makes a speedy recovery now she is home.

‘We have seized the dog and extensive efforts are underway to establish exactly what happened and to find the owner. 

‘I want to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident, who may have information which could help us with our investigation to come forward as soon as possible. 

‘You may even live locally and have CCTV, or have been passing in a vehicle and captured dashcam footage – if so, we want to hear from you.

‘This case highlights in the starkest terms the potential dangers of dogs, and I would appeal to anyone with information about dangerous dogs in their area to contact us so that we can take pro-active action.’

Merseyside Police said that house-to-house enquiries have been carried out in the area and all CCTV opportunities are being explored.

It’s the latest in a spate of recent dog attacks, with a schoolboy suffering a ‘serious leg injury’ in Worcester last week.

A 68-year-old woman was also taken to hospital with life-changing injuries when she was mauled by a dog – two other people were also hurt.

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