Archie-Lee Hirst was killed on Friday by the family pet, which police described as weighing "in the region of seven to 10 stone".

The toddler was spending Christmas at his grandparents' house in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, when the dog - which was destroyed by police - launched the attack.

Neighbour Adelaide Foster said she was concerned about the dog, particularly near children.

She told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "I remember thinking, it's really weird to have a dog like that and children playing in a small yard. It was waiting to happen, to be honest. We are devastated."

Meanwhile a woman was seriously hurt when she was attacked by a dog, thought to be a rottweiler.

The 26-year-old was taken to hospital with arm injuries after being set upon by the animal in Brierley Hill in the West Midlands.

Two dogs were later destroyed in connection with the incident, which happened on Saturday morning.

A 30-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of allowing dogs to be dangerously out of control has been released on police bail.

John Hughes, a neighbour of the woman injured on Saturday, told the BBC: "We opened the gate when we heard her screaming for help. The dog was attached to her arm. She was screaming and in pain."