A YOUNG boy was attacked by a neighbour's dog as he was on his way home from playing fields.

Simon Cunniffe was walking along Quebec Street, Deane, with a friend when he was attacked by a border collie.

The dog, which was four years old, was running along the road and suddenly pounced on the youngster, sinking its teeth into seven-year-old Simon's legs.

The youngster was rescued when a neighbour heard his screams.

Robert Taylor, aged 51, was mowing his girlfriend's lawn in Quebec Street when he saw the dog attack.

He said: "At first I thought the dog was playing when it jumped up at Simon but then he fell over and it grabbed his leg.

"I ran over, pulled the dog off him and stood between the two. The dog was still growling and it kept trying to get past me.

"A woman picked up Simon, who was screaming hysterically, and the owner grabbed the dog. Simon had a lot of deep puncture wounds on his leg and back. It was a very hot day and I think it must have affected the dog."

Simon was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital suffering from bite marks to his leg, back and ear.

His mother, Tina, aged 37, from Northfield Street, Willows, was distraught when she saw her son's leg. "The dog mauled him for no reason," she said. "When I saw his leg, I couldn't stop shaking.

"The nurses said they couldn't stitch the cuts because of the risk of infection. His leg is a real mess."

Mrs Cunniffe lives with her husband Patrick, aged 61, and has three other children -- Michelle, aged 13, Gordon, aged 12, and nine-year-old Terri Ann. The dog has been destroyed following the attack, which happened at 3pm on Saturday.

Its owner, Ian Devenport, from Northfield Street, said: "It was a family pet and had never done anything like this before.

"We are all very upset."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "The incident is under investigation."