Northern Ireland pitbull amnesty begins

Northern Ireland's first pitbull amnesty has today come into effect in County Antrim.

Owners of the illegal breed living in the Ballymena area, now have until the end of January to hand over the animals without fear of prosecution.

The move comes after a family was attacked in County Antrim by a pitbull in November.

The family escaped with only minor injuries, however on New Year's Day, a five-year-old girl from Merseyside, died after being mauled by a pitbull-type dog while staying at her grandmother's home in St Helens.

So far, as part of the amnesty, two pitbull terriers have already been handed over to the authorities and destroyed.

(EF)