A five-year-old boy was rushed to hospital for stitches to his face and head after being attacked by a dog in the street.

Adam Greene was left covered in blood after being bitten on the face, ear and head by a Japanese Akita dog near his home in Canterbury, Bradford.

The badly-shaken youngster was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary but was able to return home after treatment.

Police are investigating the incident and Adam's father, Sandy Magowan, today called for the dog to be destroyed.

Mr Magowan, 42, said: "Unless something's done it's going to bite someone else so it's got to be destroyed.

"Adam's face was a right mess afterwards - there was blood everywhere and he was in hysterics.

"He's been very lucky - he managed to get away but if he hadn't he could have had his face ripped off and been disfigured for life.

"If a dog bites once that's it, they have to be put down because they could do it again.''

Mr Magowan, of Dawnay Road, said he was also afraid the attack could have a lasting psychological effect on Adam, a pupil at Horton Park Primary School.

He added: "We've got two dogs - a mongrel and a Rottweiler - and he's fine with them at the moment but we're worried about the effect all this is going to have on him.''

Adam's mother, Yvonne Magowan, said: "He had nine cuts altogether - some needed a couple of stitches and others were glued.

"He's still in shock about it. We asked him to look in the mirror to see what the dog had done to him but he was too scared to look.''

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "We are investigating a report of a child being bitten by a dog.

"We'll be liaising with Bradford Council's dog warden section. The dog's owner will be seen as part of the investigation.''