XL Bully destroyed after woman brutally attacked in Bristol

Neighbours described hearing screaming children

A dog believed to be an XL Bully has been destroyed by vets after a woman was brutally attacked and left with potentially life-changing injuries, police have said.

The attack happened at a property in Brislington yesterday afternoon, April 10, at around 4.15pm.

Police officers with riot shields were called to the scene while an air ambulance landed at nearby St Anne's Park.

The woman in her 40s was taken to hospital, where she remains in a stable condition with potentially life-changing injuries after being bitten by the animal.

Today police have confirmed the dog was put down at a veterinary practice.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "A woman remains in a stable condition in hospital after being bitten by a dog at an address in Sutton Avenue, Bristol.

"Her injuries have been described as potentially life-changing.

"Enquiries were carried out at the scene following the incident at about 4.15pm yesterday (Thursday 10 April).

"The scene was stood down last night.

"The dog was sedated by specialist dog handlers and safely removed from the property.

"It was taken to a veterinary practice and has since been put down. We believe the dog involved was a XL Bully that had been registered.

"The local neighbourhood team will be carrying out extra high-visibility patrols in the area over the coming days and will be on hand to talk to anyone who has concerns."

One neighbour on Sutton Avenue described hearing screaming children at the time of the attack.

They said: "I had never seen a dog so nasty in all my life. Vicious, he was.

"The kids were screaming and I thought, 'There's something serious going on in there'. Then it all went quiet. I thought, 'Well, he must have got the dog in'. It's a big dog, mind."