A HUNT has been launched for a dog which bit a four-year-old boy in the face on Southampton Common.

As reported yesterday, the boy was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier type dog which came up to him while he was walking with his mum.

The 27-year-old picked him up and rushed him home.

He was taken to Southampton General Hospital by ambulance and needed stitches under his left eye.

The child is now back home with his parents.

The dog ran off following the attack at about 6pm on Thursday. No owner was seen.

Police said the boy was “luckily not seriously hurt”.

It is not known if the dog was a stray or its owner was elsewhere on the Common.

Police are now trying to trace the dog to stop it attacking again and are appealing for witnesses.

Officers patrolling the Common are keeping an eye out for the animal.

The dog was described as a “brindle” coloured with a flash of white on its back by its tail.

Peter Robinson, a Kennel Club-accredited Staffordshire Bull Terrier breeder from Fordingbridge, in the New Forest, said the breed was usually “soft and good with kids”.

“A Staff bred properly is a good family pet,” he said.

Mr Robinson added the dog responsible was probably a more aggressive cross breed, possibly a pitbull terrier, which are being increasingly advertised as “Irish Staffords”.

Anyone with information about the attack or whereabouts of the animal can contact Portswood Police Station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.