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A vicious dog attack has left a five-year-old boy needing plastic surgery.

Mackenzie Coombes' mum Aston revealed the youngster's head was locked in the animal's jaws after he was pounced on while walking home from an Asda.

The 21-year-old - who thinks the dog was a Staffie - and her sister managed to prise him free before he was rushed to hospital .

He then had emergency surgery, according to The Manchester Evening News .

(Image: Aston Coombes)

Aston said: “The dog was on the lead and my sister asked if it was friendly and stroked it.

“But then when we were walking off, the owner let the dog off the lead on the main road.

“It ran over and jumped on Mackenzie and got him on the floor.

“We had to drag the dog off ourselves - it took a lot- Mackenzie was pouring with blood.

“When we turned around the owner was running off towards the flats.”

After the incident on Sunday afternoon in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, Mackenzie was taken to Tameside Hospital where doctors cleaned and closed the wound with stitches.

(Image: Aston Coombes)

But that night experts decided Mackenzie needed surgery and transferred him to Manchester Children’s Hospital to see a plastic surgeon.

He was given a general anaesthetic before an operation yesterday morning to repair the large gash by his ear.

Aston, a full-time mum, said he remains ‘dopey’ after surgery and has been told he will be left with a scar.

Doctors have said if the family hadn’t intervened so quickly and with such determination, Mackenzie may have lost his ear entirely.

(Image: Aston Coombes)

Aston said: “He just keeps saying that he’s scared and complaining that he’s in pain. I think he was in shock before and now it’s affecting him mentally.”

Police are investigating the incident which happened at around 4.10pm.

Police confirmed they were called to reports that a child had been attacked by a dog and said enquiries are ongoing.

But Aston said she is not hopeful.

She says is yet to hear back from officers after they took a statement from her and Mackenzie in hospital.

Aston added: “The police are saying there’s not a lot they can do because they don’t know who the dog or the owner is.

“The owner needs to come forward - a little boy has been badly hurt. We don’t want it to happen to anyone else.”