A DOG which attacked two young children is set to be put down while its owner has been given a community order for allowing it to be dangerously out of control.

The young puppy, a cross between Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a Rhodesian Ridgeback, attacked to five and six-year-olds in two separate incidents in May last year.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the dog, called Winston, attacked the young boy and bit him on his face causing 'fairly traumatic and serious' injuries to him during a party at Christopher Foster's home.

The following morning the puppy attacked the young girl while she was in the kitchen and she started stroking the dog.

She was bitten to the face and suffered a small puncture to her cheek as a result.

Foster, of The Avenue, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to two charges of having a dog dangerously out of control.

Kelleigh Lodge, in mitigation, said the 36-year-old told police it was 'out of character' for the dog to bite and accepted he should have done more to prevent the second incident from happening.

Recorder Andrew Sutcliffe QC sentenced Foster to a 12-month community order and told to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054