Police have named the 17-month-old girl who died following a dog attack in her own home as Bella-Rae Birch. She was fatally attacked by the family pet on Monday afternoon and died later in hospital.
Officers remain at the scene in Bidston Avenue, Blackbrook, St Helens, Merseyside, this morning. Neighbours have been leaving flowers outside Bella-Rae's house.
Neighbour Joanne Matthews, 53, said: “She was such a beautiful little girl, toddling about. I’d see the family in passing, just to say hello, and they were always very pleasant.”
Ms Matthews said she had seen the ambulance outside the house on Bidston Avenue at about 3.50pm on Monday and then about 10 police cars, including a van, arrive.
She said: “I saw them bring the dog out. I couldn’t tell what breed it was but from the back it looked like a Staffordshire bull terrier or pitbull.”
Merseyside Police said the dog, which has been humanely destroyed, had only been with the family a week. Forensic examinations are taking place to see if it was an illegal breed of dog.
Speaking to the press this morning, Superintendent Steve Brizell said: "The community of Blackbrook and the whole of Merseyside has woken up today to the most tragic news. Officers were called to attend a house here on Bidston Avenue, at around 3.50pm yesterday.
"We were called by the family of a 17-month-old girl Bella-Rae Birch. Bella-Rae has lost her life in the most unimaginably terrible circumstances and our thoughts are first and foremost with the family and the wider community at this devastating time."
He added: "At this stage we understand that the family dog they'd bought just a week earlier has attacked Bella-Rae inside the family home. Bella-Rae was taken by ambulance to hospital by paramedics but despite the best efforts at police officers at the scene, the paramedics and doctors, sadly Bella-Rae died as a result of her injuries."
