A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy suffered serious leg injuries after being attacked by a pitbull-type dog in Burnley.

A 28-year-old woman, who went to the child’s aid, was also injured in the attack in Newman Street.

Police have seized the animal, which is believed to have escaped from a yard, under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The dog’s owner, a 53-year-old local woman, is now set to attend a voluntary police interview before a decision is taken on further action.

Neighbour Mohammed Ilyas also helped the child and said he was later praised by the boy’s father for ‘saving the child’s life’.

Mr Ilyas, 47, said: “I was sitting out having a cigarette at the front of my house. I saw the dog about 100 yards up the street and so I went to close my door and go inside.

“Then I saw a couple of kids walking up from the bottom of the street. I shouted to them to wait or to come in my house. But I don’t think they understood.

“They carried on walking up the street and the dog went for the boy. I ran up and tried to hold the dog. I then tried to open the dog’s mouth to get it off the child. There are lots of people who live on this street and nobody was helping.

“Then a woman pulled up in a car and got out of the car. The dog bit her on the arm.

“I got hold of the dog and managed to tie it to a lamppost until the police arrived. The whole thing was terrifying.”

Mr Ilyas said following the attack, which happened at 3.30pm on Thursday, the child’s father visited him to say thank you.

“He thanked my for saving his son’s life. I said I had to do it, regardless of what happened to me, because it was a child being attacked. I had to save the child.”

The boy suffered lacerations to his leg and was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital, where he was kept overnight. He was yesterday due to be assessed to see if he would require plastic surgery, police said.

The woman, understood to be a nurse, was treated at the scene by paramedics and drove herself to Burnley General Hospital.

Another resident said: “I heard a child crying and then I came outside to see what was going on. I saw a female nurse getting attacked.

“Then I saw the guy tying the dog up. I don’t know who rang the police but I saw lots of them arrive. They then cordoned off Barden Lane.

“I have lived here for more than two years and nothing like this has ever happened before.”

A police spokesman said: “The dog, believed to be a pit-bull type, has been seized under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

“Enquiries into the incident are on-going.”

Cllr Arif Khan, who represents the Queensgate ward, said: “It’s a serious situation, especially given the injuries to the boy. I’m just glad that everyone is now safe.

“I would like to remind owners of dogs to make sure they are responsible with their pets and know where they are at all times.”