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A little girl has had her hand mauled by a dog while delivering leaflets with her mum in Exeter.

The girl, aged just four years old, was taken to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital after the incident at Powderham Road, St Thomas.

She was posting a flyer through the letterbox when a dog on the other side attacked and bit her hand.

Police say they are now investigating the incident, which happened on Wednesday October 17.

A spokesperson for Devon & Cornwall Police said: "It was reported that a 4-year-old girl put a leaflet through a letterbox and had her fingers bitten by a dog.

"She received medical attention and is said to be recovering well."

Officers have spoken to the owner of the dog and given words of advice.

Local PCSO William Malcolm believes the incident is a learning exercise for all those involved, and says precautions are being put into place at the household to stop it happening again.

He said: "If you have a dog that's protective of your letterbox then please either fit a letterbox guard or external letterbox.

"If you deliver flyers then make sure you don't put your fingers through the letterbox."

He has reassured those worried about the littler girl that her hand wounds are healing "really well" and that the dog-owner was very apologetic.

Prompted by the incident, Exwick ward Cllr Rachell Sutton advised on social media to use 'a wooden spoon' to prise open letterboxes when leafleting to prevent injury.

Others suggested rulers or kitchen tongs.

In May this year delivery worker Aimee had her hand savaged by a dog on the other side of a letterbox.

The horrified Londoner was forced to wait in an ambulance until the homeowner returned to retrieve her finger from inside.

It could not be reattached, and the part time delivery worker and book-keeper received eleven stitches to help her stump heal.

Aimee said the dog “did not make a sound” when she approached the door.

"A ‘beware of the dog’ sign or letter box cage could have prevented it from biting me", she said,

“It’s all about protection,” she added. “A sign that tells workers a dog is in the house would be helpful, or a cage around the letterbox to collect the post.”