Man held after woman killed by American bulldogs in Liverpool

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene on Monday afternoon

A man has been arrested after a woman was mauled to death by dogs in a house.

The 65-year-old, named locally as Ann Dunn, was fatally attacked at a property which had been listed for dog breeding online on St Brigid's Crescent in Kirkdale, Liverpool, on Monday.

Five American bulldogs inside the house were handed over and have since been humanely destroyed.

Merseyside Police said a man, aged 31, had been held on suspicion of owning a dog dangerously out of control.

The force said the woman had not yet been formally identified

Det Insp Katie Coote said it was "clearly a very distressing incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the lady who died".

"Our inquiries remain ongoing as we seek to establish what has happened and I would urge anyone who could assist... to get in touch," she added.

The force said the woman had not yet been formally identified but her next of kin had been informed.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish the cause of death.

American bulldogs are not one of the four breeds currently banned in the UK.