A young girl, aged five, has experienced substantial facial injuries following a dog attack that occurred outside a store.
The occurrence took place in the vicinity of a Nisa shop on Norton Road, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, at approximately 6:30 pm on Saturday.
The Cleveland Police have reported that the youngster was transported to a hospital for medical care, and the dog involved in the incident has been seized.
A force spokesman said: “Officers attended the scene within minutes of the report being called in and provided medical assistance to the girl whilst waiting for the ambulance.
“The girl has suffered significant injuries to her face and is receiving treatment in hospital.
“The owner of the dog remained at the scene following the attack and co-operated with police. The dog has been seized.”
He added: “We would politely ask people to not post photos relating to the incident and to avoid speculating on social media whilst officers continue with their investigation.”