Boy, 3, dies after being bitten by dogpublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
A three-year-old boy dies after being attacked by a dog in Essex.
Read MoreSummary
Boy dies after being bitten by a dog in Halstead
It happened at Parker Way yesterday evening
A 29-year-old woman has been arrested following the death
MP James Cleverly calls it "an absolute body blow to everybody in the town"
Updates on Friday, 19 August 2016
Boy, 3, dies after being bitten by dogpublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Our live coverage of the fatal dog attack in Halstead has now come to an end. To recap:
- A three-year-old boy named as Dexter Noel was killed after being mauled by a dog yesterday afternoon in Parker Way
- A 29-year-old woman remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and injuring a person
- An American Bulldog has been seized by police and is currently in kennels
Any updates on this story will appear on the BBC News website over the weekend.
See you again for more live news for Essex at 08:00 on Monday.
Dog legislation in this country is 'ridiculous'published at 17:31 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
K9 Magazine publisher Ryan O'Meara also told BBC Essex he thinks the current dangerous dog legislation, external in the UK is "ridiculous".
Image source, Gov"It tries to seek how dangerous a dog is by its breed, but you could have 90 American Bulldogs that are brilliant pets, and you could have one that has individual issues," he said.
"I've got three dogs, two of them are the same breed, and they're all very different in temperament", he said.
American Bulldog: About the breedpublished at 17:10
Image source, ThinkstockThe American Bulldog is part of the bull breed family, which includes dogs such as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, says K9 Magazine, external publisher Ryan O'Meara.
"People then cross them, which is when we get individual and distinct breeds," he said.
The American Bulldog does not feature on the UK's Dangerous Dogs Act, external list and the breed is not recognised by the Kennel Club.
'Such sad news - thinking of you all at such a sad time'published at 16:17 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
Chris Flynn
BBC EssexMore flowers with tributes have been laid by locals as news spreads about the tragic events that took place in Halstead almost 24 hours ago.
Police seized 7,000 dogs over five yearspublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
Image source, ThinkstockBraintree MP says rules around dog ownership 'need to be looked at'published at 15:39 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
James Cleverly, the Conservative MP for Braintree, has been to the scene at Parker Way, where he told the BBC he would examine the law to see how such attacks could be prevented in future.
Image source, PA"I'm very conscious that the original Dangerous Dogs Act was brought in in response to incidents just like this and I think most people agree it was not a particularly well-drafted piece of legislation," he said.
"I think the last thing we should do now is any kind of knee-jerk reaction, but we do need to look at the rules around dog ownership and also about how dogs are looked after - and particularly when there are children involved."
Earlier it was revealed an American Bulldog killed three-year-old Dexter Neal in Halstead. The breed is not on the list of banned dogs.
Dog bite hospital admissions on the risepublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
There has been a rise in the number of people admitted to hospital for dog attacks over the past five years in England and Wales, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics, external.
Dexter lived around the corner from where dog attack took placepublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
Essex Police says dog attack victim Dexter Neal, three, lived around the corner from Parker Way in Ronald Road, Halstead.
We are told that family liaison officers have been deployed to support the family.
Government urged to 'look again' at Dangerous Dogs Actpublished at 14:32 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
The World at One
BBC Radio 4Following today's news, the Blue Cross has called for the government to "look again" at the Dangerous Dogs Act, external.
Media caption, Animal welfare charity calls for government to rethink Dangerous Dog Act
Breed of dog identiftied as an American Bulldogpublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
BreakingPolice have also confirmed that the dog which killed Dexter Neal was an American Bulldog.
The animal, which is not on the list banned dogs, external, has been seized by police and placed in kennels.
Boy killed in fatal dog attack named as Dexter Nealpublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
BreakingA three-year-old boy mauled in a fatal dog attack has been named as Dexter Neal by police.
More to follow.
Image source, Essex PoliceFatal dog attack: What we know so farpublished at 13:55 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
Jack Warren
BBC Local LiveIf you're just joining us, here's what we know so far about the fatal dog attack in Halstead:
- Emergency services attended Parker Way after reports a boy was attacked by a dog
- A three-year-old boy was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where he later died from his injuries
- One neighbour said she "heard screams" but didn't associate it with anything "terrible"
- A 29-year-old woman remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and injuring a person
- A police cordon remains in place
'Terrible scenes' at fatal dog attack housepublished at 13:11 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
A man who dialled 999 after a boy was fatally attacked by a dog in Halstead has described the "terrible scenes" he saw.
Scott Nowell, 19, said neighbours gathered around a "distraught" mother as people tried to save her son.
The three-year-old boy later died in hospital.
Media caption, Man who dialled 999 after a fatal Halstead dog attack describes 'terrible scenes'
Flowers laid outside Parker Way housepublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
Chris Flynn
BBC EssexPeople have begun laying flowers outside the house where a three-year-old boy was mauled by a dog.
Kennel Club 'extremely saddened' by death of boy in dog attackpublished at 12:16
We've just received a statement from the Kennel Club on yesterday's dog attack in Halstead, in which a boy died.
It says: "Our thoughts and deepest condolences go to his family."
We're still awaiting confirmation on what breed the dog is. However, we do know it has been seized by police.
Man denies killing husband and wifepublished at 12:03 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
A man pleads not guilty to the murder of a couple from Suffolk.
Read MoreThe world's press decends on a quiet Halsteadpublished at 11:52 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
Chris Flynn
BBC EssexParker Way, a usually quiet street, is the subject of national media attention today.
'You can never trust a dog 100%'published at 11:39 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
Quote MessageWe're all fairly good dog lovers round here. We've all got dogs, I have, my neighbours have, we've got children as well, but I think it's like any dog, you can never trust a dog 100%. I don't care what dog it is. I think you always have to be aware that a child and a dog don't always go together."
Shirley Diver, Mayor of Halstead
Fatal dog attack: Latest pictures from Parker Waypublished at 11:16 British Summer Time 19 August 2016
Thomas Magill
BBC Essex
