A BRAVE Bolton schoolboy has told how he fought off two fierce dogs which were mauling his mates. Mark Aspey single-handedly fought off the powerful Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross bred dogs using only a plank of wood. The ferocious animals left four of his pals covered in blood, from bite wounds to their arms and legs following the unprovoked attack on Tuesday night.

Yesterday the BEN revealed how the youngsters' football match ended in horror when the animals raced onto playing fields and lunged at them.

Four children who had serious bite wounds were taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital and three others were left with scratches to their hands.

Brother and sister Craig and Kelly Rearden, of Lever Edge Lane, have spent a second night in hospital. Both had to undergo operations yesterday to sterilise and stitch deep bite wounds.

Two other girls, Rachel Hainey and Kelly Upton, were left with more than 40 bite wounds between them on their arms and legs and are due to return to hospital today for further treatment.

But Mark, 12, says he feared it could have been far worse if he'd not managed to scare the dogs away by waving the piece of wood at them.

Although he'd already been bitten on his left arm he forgot about his own safety to come to the rescue of his terrified young companions.

The Hayward High School pupil said: "I thought that one of them might die if I didn't do something.

"I just picked the wood up and ran at them to chase them away. All I was thinking was that I had to get them away from everyone. I didn't really think about what I was doing and I don't think it was that brave of me."

The modest young hero then ran to the nearby Hayward Sports Centre to wait for paramedics before making his way home.

And amazingly the youngster didn't even tell his mum, Sandra Worgan, of his bravery.

Sandra, who lives in Woodvale Avenue, Morris Green, said: "I didn't know anything about it until the next day. What he did was very brave and we're very pleased with him. He's our little hero."

Hayward High School's headteacher John Heaton rang police yesterday to ensure the two dogs would remain locked up until a decision had been made about their fate.

Mr Heaton added: "We had 550 primary schoolchildren here for a cross-country race last night. I wanted assurances that the dogs would be kept in a safe and secure house. I'm sure Mark will get a mention in assembly and we will make something of what he's done although I'm sure it's the last thing he will want."

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