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Police are investigating after a boy was bitten in the face by an Alsatian-cross dog outside his home.

Tommie Birchall was walking up the lane to his house near Dunston Dairy Farm, in Acton Trussell, after school when a dog ran out of a nearby property and jumped up at him before biting his nose.

Witnesses ran to the eight-year-old’s aid, helping to pull the dog off before he was taken to A&E at County Hospital following the incident earlier this month.

Mum Sarah Birchall said: “Tommie was walking with his sisters Tiffiny, 14, and Emilie, 16, when he was attacked right outside our house. I was looking out of the window when I saw the dog run across the field and then jump straight at his face and bite it.

“He was screaming and everybody was heading over to help. The dog owner bundled the dog into a car and drove off up the lane – not a ‘sorry, oh my goodness, how is he?’ or anything!”

Tommie, who has ADHD, was seen within minutes at hospital and had his wounds cleaned and steristrips applied before being sent home.

Sarah added: “Luckily they were superficial wounds to his face, but it looked bad and there was blood everywhere. There were two puncture hole wounds on his nose and he had skin hanging off which I pushed back into place.

“It could have been worse, the dog could have ripped his nose off. If he was there on his own he could have been mauled to death or anything, it was only due to people pulling the dog off that it wasn’t worse.

“He loved dogs, that was his thing - he would speak to dogs and not people but now he’s terrified of them. He wouldn’t leave the house for a week, he didn’t go to school last week and is absolutely petrified.

“I’ve had to carry him to the car and now the only dogs he trusts are ours.”

The incident was reported to Staffordshire Police straight away, but Sarah has been left unimpressed with their response.

She said: “Police came out the next day but I didn’t hear back from them after that. They were meant to visit on Saturday but never did and I waited all day.

“After chasing them I’ve been told the dog owner wants to take it to court and until then it should have a muzzle and lead on when out.

“I feel the dog should have been removed from the property.

“I want the owner to face any consequences, but unfortunately the poor dog will and I feel sorry for it, I’ve got three myself and we’re a family of dog lovers.

“I think it’s disgusting that police haven’t done anything or been in touch, a court date could take months. Some neighbours have little children.

“There’s only one way in and out of these properties, everybody has to walk that way.”

A Staffordshire Police spokeswoman said: “Police were contacted at 5pm on Tuesday, March 3, to a report of a dog bite incident in Dunston near Stafford.

“An eight-year-old boy was bitten by a dog, believed to be an Alsatian cross. He suffered facial injuries.

“Officers are carrying out inquiries, and anyone with any information can contact 101, quoting incident number 537 of March 3.”