A man was left needing stitches after being attacked by an ‘out of control’ dog while out walking on Boxing Day.

Between 10-11am on Thursday, the man was out walking his dog near Hoole Lane, Ince when he was bitten on the wrist by the Dogue De Bordeaux.

Police are now trying to trace the owner of the dog after the attack which saw the victim spend Boxing Day in A&E for stitches for the bite, which punctured the skin.

Police believe the man was attacked as he tried to protect his own dog after seeing the animal running around off its lead.

The victim’s mobile phone is thought to have been damaged in the incident, with police believing the dog may have bitten the screen as he held it in his hand.

Police are now urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forwards, and are searching for the owner of the dog using social media.

“It is described as being like the Turner and Hooch dog,” said PC Adam Norton, of Western Rural NPU.

“We are trying to trace the owner of the dog. Anyone with any information should call 101 quoting incident number 258 of December 27.”