Police are investigating after a large pit bull broke lose and savaged a nine-year-old neighbour who ended up spending nine days in hospital.

The victim's family fear it could happen again as the dog has not been put down and is still tethered next door in Hook and Ladder Lane, Somerset.

A relative of the family said the dog burst in as children played in a tree downed in Hurricane Fabian the day before.

She rushed out when she heard screaming to see the dog tearing at the child.

"He started ripping at his leg. It took so many minutes to get the dog to let go. It seemed like an eternity when something like that happens."

When a relative began hitting the dog with a concrete block it finally stopped the attack. The woman, who wished to remain nameless, said: "It messed up his eyes and his two front paws."

The dog lay there injured until the owner came home and took him away.

"The dog went to the vets. I thought they were putting him down but they were fixing him up and he was brought back home."

Meanwhile the child was suffering from his injuries.

"It left a big hole in the leg, several gashes had to be stitched up and he was in hospital for nine days."

She said her neighbour had offered to pay any expenses resulting from the injury but had not bothered to visit and apologise to the child.

"Money is not a problem. We don't want the dog around anymore. My neighbour said he has secured the dog on a secure chain but he said that before.

"I have a lot of people I don't know coming up to me ask how the little boy is doing but he never even had the decency to ask me if the boy is dead or alive."

She said the child had to return to hospital three times to have the wound cleaned but is now back at school.

There is no fence separating the two gardens said the woman. "There was a wall around where the dog was but he still got out, he can easily jump over.

"The dog is still right there. The children are nervous and afraid to play outside now. They were traumatised.

"I hope the Police will take a stand and look into it. He still might get loose again and attack someone else's child."

The family are to press charges over the matter. Head animal warden Jeffrey Benevides said the matter was under investigation and he expected it would go to court.