The mother of two toddlers attacked by the family dog told the BBC she was "so thankful" to neighbours who helped to save them.

The boys, aged two and three, are being treated for puncture wounds and lacerations to their arms and legs in hospital and having surgery to close and stitch their wounds.

The animal, a six-month-old American bulldog named Oakley, had reportedly never shown any signs of aggression until it attacked at about 16:00 BST on Thursday in the back garden of their home on Johnson Avenue, Prescot.

The boys' mother, who did not wish to be named, said they were expected to make a "full recovery" and have been their "normal cheeky selves" in hospital.

The BBC understands the children were playing in the garden when Oakley grabbed the older boy without warning.

As the adults in the house prised his jaws open to release the three-year-old, it turned and grabbed the younger boy before it was pulled away.

'We're not coping'

A neighbour managed to keep the dog from grabbing the boy's face and neck, before the children were moved safely inside.

Witnesses said the dog had been with the family since it was about eight or nine weeks old.

The mother thanked the neighbour who intervened, adding were it not for her "I might not have a son".

She said her older child had been asking about Oakley, who had been handed over to police to be put down.

"We're not coping," she said.

"Not only are we dealing with the two kids, we're also grieving for the family dog."

However, she said the children seemed to be dealing with the attack well.

"They're still the same kids, they're still their same cheeky, attitude-y little selves," she said.

"The way they are in themselves, you wouldn't know anything had happened, but of course it has."

Cn Insp Phil Thompson, from Merseyside Police, called the attack a "shocking incident".

"We are in the very early stages of investigating this incident and the dog has been seized at the home, he said.

"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the breed of the dog and identify the owner."

The jury in the trial of two police officers accused of using excessive force against a 92-year-old amputee have begun their deliberations.

PCs Stephen Smith, 51, and Rachel Comotto, 36, have denied using excessive force on Donald Burgess at Park Beck care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.

The care home called 999 in June 2022 after Mr Burgess, a single-leg amputee and wheelchair user, reportedly grabbed a knife and threatened to stab staff.

Mr Burgess was taken to hospital where he contracted Covid and died 22 days later, aged 93, but the officers are not being held responsible for his death.

Judge Christopher Hehir, summarising the evidence on at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, told jurors: "The reason for his behaviour that day, we now know, is that he was delirious as a result of a urinary tract infection."

PC Smith sprayed synthetic Pava pepper spray into Mr Burgess's face and struck his wrist with a baton, with PC Comotto deploying her Taser, all within a minute and 23 seconds of entering the pensioner's room, the court was told.

PC Smith denies two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm for his use of Pava spray and for using a baton, while PC Comotto denies one count related to her use of a Taser on Mr Burgess.

Judge Hehirsaid jurors should reach their decision "with their heads, not their hearts".

Prosecutors claim the force used against Mr Burgess, who had been reportedly waving a serrated cutlery knife around and telling staff he would "take pleasure" in murdering them, was "unjustified and unlawful" given his age and physical condition.

PC Smith previously told jurors he did not see that Mr Burgess was disabled and using a wheelchair as he was focused on the knife the pensioner was holding in his hand.

During his evidence, he denied emptying a full can of Pava in Mr Burgess's face, saying it was "a short burst".

He also denied hitting Mr Burgess with a baton, claiming he instead flicked the baton towards the pensioner's wrist to "knock the knife out" of his hand.

During her evidence, PC Comotto said she believed using the Taser was the safest way to "protect" Mr Burgess as she feared her colleague using the baton again would cause more harm.

"I'm not a trigger-happy officer," she told jurors.

"It's the first time I've fired my Taser."