A FOUR-year-old girl has had emergency surgery on her arm and shoulder after being savagely attacked by a bull terrier type dog.

It is understood the youngster was being looked after by a family member at her great aunt’s home in Scholes Street, Darwen, when the attack happened.

According to neighbours the babysitter was also bitten as she tried to get the dog off the girl.

A neighbour said: “It was a savage attack. She had a big wound in her arm.

“She was a very brave little girl. She was hardly crying.”

“The dog is dangerous. It has tried to bite my son before. People around here know to be wary.”

Another neighbour said: “The little girl was screaming. She was outside the house and the girl who was babysitting kicked the dog to try to keep it inside.

“We rang the ambulance and they told us to wrap a tea towel over the wound to stop it bleeding. She was so brave.

“The dog took a chunk out of her arm. You could see the bone in her little arm. It had also bit her shoulder.

“She was lucky it was her arm and not her throat.

“The neighbours are going to chip in and send a teddy to hospital for her.”

The four-year-old and her babysitter were both taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital for treatment.

Duty Inspector Illyas Mohmed said: “Police were called at 3:10pm on Monday to reports that a four-year-old girl had been bitten by dog at an address in Scholes Street, Darwen.

“The little girl had serious injuries to her arm and her shoulder and was taken through to Royal Blackburn Hospital where she is receiving treatment.

“The dog at the address has been detained for examination. An investigation is under way and police are trying to establish the breed of the dog.”