Four-year-old girl bitten by terrier during shopping trip in city with parents

The youngster needed hospital treatment after she was attacked by the dog while walking hand-in-hand with her mother and father.

North Yorkshire Police officers are now attempting to trace the dog's owner, who walked off without stopping following the attack at about 1.45pm on Sunday in Stonegate.

The girl, who is understood to live in The Groves area of York, suffered a one-and-a-half inch scratch to her left cheek and a puncture wound just to the left of her mouth. She was taken to York Hospital by ambulance and was later discharged.

Pc Danny Foxton, a member of the York Safer Neighbourhood Response Team, said: "The little girl suffered some nasty-looking injuries to her face and her parents are naturally very shocked and upset by what happened.

"Thankfully she was not seriously hurt, but this is probably more by luck than anything else."

The man who was walking the dog is described as white, aged in his early 30s, about 5ft 10in and slim with a pale, thin face. He was wearing a white fleece jacket and blue jeans, and was also pushing a bicycle.

The dog, which was on a lead at the time of the attack, was described as a Staffordshire bull terrier with a brown body and white head. Pc Foxton added: "I am appealing for any witnesses to come forward as soon as possible. In particular I want to hear from anyone who can help to identify the owner of the dog."

Anyone with information should call 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.