Man, 84, critical after suspected XL bully attack

A 29-year-old woman was arrested by police

An 84-year-old man who was chased into a garden by a suspected XL bully and injured in a "horrific" attack is in a critical but stable condition in hospital, police have said.

He was attacked on Bardsley Avenue in Warrington at about 18:40 GMT on Monday after the animal escaped from a nearby address, Cheshire Constabulary said.

Armed officers shot and killed the dog, as well as a second suspected XL bully that was found at the address, and arrested a 29-year-old woman on suspicion of being in possession of a dog dangerously out of control causing serious injury.

Cheshire Constabulary Chief Constable Mark Roberts said the "sheer size and ferocity" of the dogs meant police needed to fire 19 shots.

He said: "This was an innocent man who was simply walking in the street when he was horrifically attacked by a suspected unregistered XL Bully.

"These dogs are like weapons; their physical attributes can make it like owning a loaded firearm with a questionable safety catch."

A third, smaller dog, was seized at the scene, the spokesman added.

People believe the man was attacked by an XL bully dog

The man, described by police as from the area, is being treated for serious head and facial injuries at Aintree Hospital after the attack.

Chief Constable Roberts said there was "no doubt that this incident will impact him for the rest of his life".

A cordon has been in place overnight at the scene, with police also trying to track down a 40-year-old man over the incident.

The attack came in a residential area of Warrington

Local Bardsley Avenue resident Tom Jones told BBC Radio Manchester he heard armed police outside of his home during the incident.

"They kept saying 'please don't move', and you just heard four shots. They must have been at it for about an hour," he said.

"An 84-year-old fella... I hope he's alright. It could have been me."