A BOY is recovering after a new neighbour's dog mauled him when he went round to greet them.

The 12-year-old needed 34 stitches after the bull mastiff lunged at him.

David Gash had been living with his dad John, 51, in Consett, but has moved to his mother's home in North Shields since the attack.

He said: "I was too scared to go back home in case the dog went for me again. I went around with a card to welcome the new neighbours. They invited me in and asked if I wanted to see their dog.

"I love dogs so I was dead keen, but as soon as I went to the side of the house I realised the dog wasn't being friendly. It jumped up at me and grabbed my arm and tried to drag me to the floor. I fought to stop myself being pulled down. It got me kneeling and began attacking my face, barking and growling. I fought to break free and managed to run to the gate."

David, a pupil at Blackfyne School, was taken to Durham's University Hospital.

He was treated for seven bite wounds to his face, a broken tooth, a badly bruised upper right forearm and paw scratches on his chest and back.

The dog's owners issued a statement saying: "We are both absolutely devastated about what happened. Our sincerest apologies go out to David and his family. The dog has been put to sleep."