'Pit bull-type dog' that killed sleeping baby was a 'banned breed'

Mother and stepfather of Ava-Jayne Corless have been released on bail

Ava-Jayne Corless was killed by the dog as she slept

The pit bull terrier that killed a baby in Blackburn was a "prohibited" breed, police have said.

Eleven-month-old Ava-Jayne Marie Corless was attacked by the dog – described as a "pit bull terrier-type" – as she was sleeping upstairs at a house in Blackburn, Lancashire on Monday evening.

The dog, which has since been destroyed, is one of the only breeds to have been "prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991", Lancashire Police confirmed.

Chief Superintendent Chris Bithell also said they were checking "whether there have been previous issues with this particular dog".

Neighbour Brian Harrison, 80, said: "That dog is a menace, it was a nightmare for neighbours and people were terrified of approaching it."

Paramedics had battled to save the child as they arrived at the "horrific" scene but she died later from her injuries at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Her mother, Chloe King, 20, and partner Lee Wright, 26, were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and child neglect on Tuesday. They have now been released on bail pending further inquiries.

It was revealed that Ms King and Mr Wright, who is not the child's father, were downstairs when the attack happened and were not at Ava-Jayne's home address.

Ava-Jayne is the 17th person to die from a dog attack since 2005. A post-mortem examination is due to take place soon to determine the exact cause of her death.