Police announced that a 10-year-old girl died after being bitten by her family’s dog.

North Yorkshire Police were called at 4.15pm on Friday following an incident at the family’s home in the Malton area.

Police said a member of the public attended to help the family and were joined by Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

Police said the girl was seriously injured and died at the scene.

Police added that a family member placed the dog in a car before emergency services arrived.

The animal was later seized by officers to ensure the safety of the kennels where it was found, and the animal is being evaluated within the scope of the investigation.

Police teams were called to the scene by ambulance teams.

North Yorkshire Police said: “Our thoughts are with the girl’s family and friends at this very sad time. Police are supporting the family as their investigation continues.

“We also urge people not to speculate about the incident, to respect the family’s privacy and allow them to grieve in peace.

“We will provide more information when available.”