A two-year-old boy viciously attacked by a dog has undergone surgery to his face after one of his ears and part of his nose was torn off.
It is believed the boy, named locally as Keiron Guess, has also suffered serious damage to one of his eyes.
The toddler was found in a neighbour's back garden by his grandfather - who suffered an injury to his arm while trying to fight the Staffordshire bull terrier off.
Dave Guess, 49, had rushed to help his grandson at the terraced house in Swanage Walk, Swindon, after he heard screaming.
Two air ambulances were flown to the incident at about 6pm yesterday along with two road ambulances, a rapid response unit and two doctors.
The boy was rushed to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.
Police said the toddler's parents, named locally as Stacey and Anthony, are at their son's bedside.
A Wiltshire Police spokeswoman said two dogs were at the house but only one was involved in the attack.
Police added the dog has been handed into officers to be destroyed humanely.
No-one has been arrested in connection with the attack, the force added.
A police spokeswoman said: "Police in Swindon are investigating a dog attack where a two-year-old boy was left with serious facial injuries.
"At approx 6pm on Sunday 3rd June, the two-year-old boy was found injured in a neighbour's garden, after being attacked by a dog.
"The boy was taken to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol with serious facial injuries and is in a stable condition. His parents and family are with him.
"A 49-year-old man was also injured and received treatment at hospital for an injury to his arm which is not serious.
"The dog, believed to be a Staffordshire bull terrier-type breed, was handed into police by the owner and will be destroyed later today.
"The owners are fully co-operating with the police."
A witness, who did not want to be named, told the BBC: "My wife was on the computer and she heard this scream, 'where is he, where is he?'."
"The grandfather carried him out and he was just limp. There was blood all over his face."
Investigating officers have appealed for anyone with information about the attack to contact police.
It was later revealed that Wiltshire police attended the address last year and an officer was bitten by a dog at the property.
A police spokeswoman said: "This animal was appropriately assessed at the time and was found not to be a dangerous dog breed. No further action was taken.
"Officers cannot confirm at this stage if the same dog that bit a police officer was the same as the one that has been destroyed after attacking the two-year-old boy.
"The owners have been fully co-operating with police and handed the dog in to be destroyed."
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PA | Posted: 04/06/2012 19:19 Updated: 04/06/2012 19:19