Boy, 9, injured by attack dog in Leeds woods

The boy, who is from the Rothwell area, was playing with a 13-year-old friend at about 3.20pm as a man walked two dogs nearby. The dogs, not on leads, ran towards the boy and attacked him. The man intervened to stop the dogs attacking the boy but then walked off and is not believed to have dialled 999.

The boy suffered a broken wrist and superficial injuries to his head and face, and was treated at hospital before being discharged.

Police say the dog-owner was white, in his thirties, with a bald head, and around 5ft 10in tall. He wore a light blue polo shirt, light blue jeans and white Nike trainers. The dogs were similar to Staffordshire bull terriers. One of the dogs is described as black and white and quite large, with the other small and black.

Acting Detective Inspector Richard Stead, of City and Holbeck CID, said: “This is a very worrying incident where a young boy has suffered serious injuries. On face value, the actions of the man walking the dogs appear to be very callous, as he has not tried to get help.”