Girl, five, bitten by dog suffers potentially life-altering injuries

The girl was seriously injured when the dog, believed to be a Staffordshire bull terrier, bit her during the Handmade Parade in Hebden Bridge.

She had been waiting in line at a food stall during the event in Calder Holmes Park between 2.50pm and 3pm on Sunday.

The dog was on a lead at the time of the incident. It is described as ginger/brown with white markings and a white belly and was wearing a light brown, four point harness.

Two men who were with the dog are described as white, aged around 50, of quite broad build and wearing glasses. One was further described as bald or with very short hair and was wearing a black or navy and white horizontal striped shirt.

PCSO Gareth Helliwell, of Upper Valley Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The five-year-old girl involved in this incident needed reconstructive surgery to an eyelid following this attack and has suffered potentially irreparable damage to her lower tear duct.

“The two men with the dog have apparently left the area without checking on the girl’s welfare or leaving any details.

We need to identify these two men and would urge anyone with information about who they are, or indeed the men themselves, to come forwards.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Valley North NPT via 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.