AN 11-year-old boy has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after being bitten by a dog.

Police said the child was bitten by his family's American Bulldog at a house in Commercial Street, Rishton, at around 6pm this evening.

Inspector John Fryer said the boy has suffered puncture wounds to his arms, chest and underarms but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The North West Air Ambulance landed on a field at Norden High School and Sports College, Rishton, and the boy was airlifted to Manchester Children's Hospital.

Insp Fryer said: "The incident happened at an address in Commercial Street, Rishton. It was an isolated incident and the dog was contained in a back yard when our police dog handler arrived. It wasn't running around attacking the public.

"The dog has been removed to kennels and will be destroyed on the instructions of the owner, who is the boy's mother."