A four-year-old girl has died after a dog attack in Milton Keynes.
Police officers were called by the ambulance service shortly after 5pm on Tuesday after a report that a dog had attacked a child in the back garden of a property in Broadlands, Netherfield.
The child died at the scene shortly after.
Officers remain at the site, where the dog has since been put down.
No one else was hurt in the incident, and the child’s family are being supported by specially-trained officers.
No arrests have been made in connection with the investigation.
‘Absolutely tragic incident’
Superintendent Matt Bullivant said: “This is an absolutely tragic incident, in which we believe that a child has been killed after being attacked by a dog.
“Clearly, we are in the very early stages of an investigation, and it would be wrong and unhelpful to speculate as to the exact circumstances of this incident at this point.”
He added: “I understand how much of an impact this will have on the community and on the wider public, and people can expect to see a large police presence in the area this evening and beyond while our investigation continues.
“I would like to reassure people that there is no reason to believe there is any danger to the wider public at this time.”