Schoolboy, 11, bitten on face by dog in savage attack as cops launch probe

A SCHOOLBOY was hospitalised after he was bitten on the face by a dog as he played in a park.

The 11-year-old was savagely attacked in a field between two housing estates in Stevenage, Herts.

Cops have now launched a hunt to track down the owner of the dog.

They describe the pet as "medium-sized" and brown.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, which happened on July 27 at around 2.15pm, or those who can identify the dog's owner, should get in touch with officers.

PC Georgina Yeabsley, of Hertfordshire Police, said a number of people may have witnessed the horror.

"This incident happened in the middle of the afternoon during the school summer holidays when there were several other people on the fields who may have seen what happened," she said.

“If you witnessed the incident or have information that could help us to identify the dog’s owner, please get in touch.”

News of the attack comes less than a week after a 34-year-old man was mauled to death by a dog in Fareham, Hants.

It's believed Ian 'Wiggy' Symes may have been bitten after collapsing and having a seizure as he walked his dogs last Wednesday.

Tributes have since flooded in for the "gentle soul".

Mr Symes' brother Martin shared a photo of the victim smiling alongside two Rottweilers on Facebook.

He said: "The past 30 hours have been pretty shocking and very hard to really understand what happened and why.

"Thanks for all the messages and tributes for my brother. It’s very touching to see the flowers and messages left at the field."

And on Friday, August 12, a mum and her two young kids were savaged in an attack in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

The woman, who is in her 20s, and two children aged under three suffered bite marks in the horror.

It's understood the dogs involved were Staffordshire bull terriers.

A man in his 20s was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault, coercive and controlling behaviour, and being in charge of a dog that is dangerously out of control.

Four dogs have been seized by police.