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A dog was killed with a hammer in an incident which has left a man with life-threatening injuries.

A 46-year-old was airlifted to hospital after the serious assault on Cleatlam Close in Hardwick on Sunday morning.

Nobody has been arrested in connection with the attack, which police believe was targeted.

And Cleveland Police has now confirmed a dog was attacked with a hammer amid the chaos, after witnesses described the ugly scene.

The force said the animal died on Monday after treatment failed to save the dog.

Police confirmed the man remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Acting Neighbourhood Inspector Mark Doherty said: “I realise that the community may have concerns about what happened and I fully understand this.

“However I want to reassure residents that we do believe that the victim and suspect know each other - and we are not aware of any current or specific risk to the wider public.

“Although no one has been arrested in connection with this incident, we are carrying out urgent and extensive enquiries to trace the man believed responsible for this very serious assault.

“We are deploying all possible resources and the incident is being investigated thoroughly and professionally by a dedicated team of detectives - with support from my neighbourhood officers and other specialist teams.

“Officers remain in the area to provide visible reassurance and anyone with concerns or information can approach them. Detectives are also conducting further inquiries in the area."

(Image: UGC TNE)

Police were called at 10am on Sunday and scenes of crime officers visited a house, which was cordoned off by police.

The Great North Air Ambulance landed on a nearby field for around an hour as paramedics and doctors carefully moved the victim from the house to the helicopter.

Children watched on as police vans rushed to the scene.

The North East Ambulance Service confirmed it had also sent two double-crewed ambulances, a rapid response paramedic and two crews from its Hazard Area Response Teams to a private address in Hardwick.

No further details have been released about the victim’s injuries, but witnesses allege he was stabbed.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cleveland Police via the 101 number quoting Event 133353, or alternatively information can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or on 0800 555111.