A PENSIONER who was savaged by a police dog is still in hospital, where her condition is described as stable.

The 73-year-old had allowed police to release a search dog in her Middlesbrough garden at about 9.30pm on Wednesday.

However the German shepherd ran into her house on Penrith Road and attacked her. Police said she was "left with bites about her body" and was taken to James Cook University Hospital in the town.

Cleveland Police had been searching for a man who had fled his car after being stopped as part of a drugs operation nearby.

The force said the dog, which has been taken off duty, was trained internally.

Assistant Chief Constable Sean White said: “All of our dogs are trained, assessed and accredited by Cleveland Police in accordance with national standards for the use of police dogs, we have no external contractors for any dog handling purposes.

"We are continuing to investigate the incident and to provide the fullest level of support to the injured lady and her family. We wish her a full recovery.”

The Independent Police Complaints Commission in investigating the incident.