A man and woman have been charged after a child was bitten by an XL Bully dog in Bootle, Merseyside on Saturday (10 February).

Officers were called to Wadham Road just after 5.20pm following a report that the dog had bitten an eight-year-old boy to the head in the communal area of flats nearby.

The boy was taken to hospital for the treatment of serious head injuries, where he continues to receive treatment in a serious but stable condition.

Officers attended and seized the dog – an XL Bully – which was humanely destroyed later on Saturday with the agreement of the owner.

House-to-house enquiries have been carried out in the area and all CCTV opportunities are being explored

Amanda Young, 49, and Lewis Young, 30, both of Wadham Road in Bootle, have been charged with being a person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury.

They have been remanded into custody to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday 12 February.