THE mother of a schoolgirl who was bitten in the face by a bull mastif has called for tighter controls on the owners of dangerous dogs.

Jane Dalby spoke out after being horrified by the case of five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson, who was killed by her uncle's dog in St Helens, and said it brought back memories of the attack on her daughter.

Mrs Dalby, 39, of Whitefield Street, Hapton, said the issue of dangerous dog ownership was one that needed "serious attention" from the Government.

Her daughter Nicola, nine, was attacked by the bull mastif in September. She spent two days in hospital and had 13 stitches in the wound, which also required an operation after becoming infected. The case has prompted legal action by police against the owner.

Mrs Dalby said: "It is not the dogs that should be banned. It is down to the people that own them. Responsible dog ownership is essential to make sure that people are safe."

At the time of the attack, Nicola's father, Andrew, 40, a window cleaner, said she was lucky that her injuries were not worse. He said: "It is terrifying to think what could have happened.

"Even with the injuries as they are we are lucky she didn't lose her eye."

Doctors have said that while the wounds will heal, she is likely to be left scarred around her mouth where the injuries were worse.

Following the death of Ellie Lawrenson this week, there has been a debate on the effectiveness of the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, which imposes conditions on the ownership of four types of dog.

Under the Act, the owner of an illegal dog can face a £5,000 fine as well as a six-month prison sentence.

Four breeds of dog are identified as dangerous - the pit bull terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brazileiro.

The importance of the Act is that it places the responsibility of the dog's actions on its owner.

The difficulty is that none of the four named dogs is a recognised breed in Britain.