Dog kills toddler in 'truly horrific' scene

The toddler suffered severe facial injuries when she was attacked by the dog, now believed to be an American bulldog, at the house in Cotton Walk, Broadfield, Crawley, West Sussex, on Saturday lunchtime. She was pronounced dead at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.

The girl's uncle, a 32-year-old man who lives at the property, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and interviewed. Yesterday he was released on bail until July 15

Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Bowles, of Sussex Police, said yesterday: "Officers have been working through the night to build up a picture of what led to this appalling tragedy. Our inquiries are actively continuing and a suspect remains in custody.

"It appears that the little girl was in the kitchen with her grandmother, mother and three-year-old sister when the dog entered the house from the garden.

"What happened next was truly horrific as the dog picked up the child and attacked it in front of her family. Two workmen at a nearby property heard screaming and ran to the house to help.

"They were able to distract the animal who dropped the baby from its jaws.

"One of them then pulled the child to safety before an ambulance was called."

He said the 32-year-old man was not in the address at the time of the attack but arrived shortly afterwards and was arrested. He is the owner of the dog, Mr Bowles added.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said the dog would be destroyed.

Detectives were still trying to establish the breed of the dog.

It was originally believed to be a mastiff but was now thought to be an American bulldog.

The breed is not banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.