'I heard them screaming for help': Neighbour tells of moment she tried to save baby mauled by new pet dog

A brave neighbour has recalled the desperate moments she ran to try and help save a 17-month-old baby who was mauled to death by a dog.

The toddler, named by Merseyside Police as Bella-Rae Birch, was attacked by the family pet at around 3.50pm yesterday (March 21). Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene, on Bidston Avenue Avenue, St Helens, where she was rushed to hospital but tragically died.

One heroic neighbour, Jordan, ran over to help the young girl when she heard screams. Jordan, who hopes to go to university in September to train to be a pandemic, told the Echo : "I gave CPR to the baby. My head is a mess.

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"I heard them screaming for help and I ran over. The parents were hysterical. I've lived here for eight years but I've never spoken to them before."

Jordan lives near the family and said the baby's mum was "devastated" and "crying hysterically" outside the house moments after the horrific attack. Neighbours said the family of four had lived at that house for around three years and only purchased the dog recently.

The dog was described by one woman as "stocky" and noted that she thought it was a Pitbull or Staffy. Meanwhile, another neighbour said: "There were absolutely loads of police officers, there must have been about 20 police cars and ambulances.

"The square was absolutely swarming with them, I've never seen so many police in my life. I was just in shock when I heard a baby had been attacked by a dog. I believe the dog was tranquillised in the house with a dart gun."

Other neighbours recalled that the animal was brought out with a metal collar and rod by police officers. The dog was humanely put down following