A community has been devastated by the death of a beautiful little girl in St Helens.
Merseyside Police were called to Bidston Avenue in Blackbrook at around 3.50pm on Monday following reports 17-month old Bella-Rae Birch had been attacked by a family dog. Emergency services attended and the child was taken to hospital where, despite best efforts, she sadly died as a result of her injuries.
Police confirmed the dog, which had been bought just a week before, was handed over to officers and has been humanely destroyed. The dog will be subjected to further forensic examinations to determine its breed and whether it is or isn't a legal breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
