Police forced their way into a Bradford flat after a tip-off that dangerous dogs were being kept there.

Neighbourhood Policing Officers, supported by Bradford Council's Dog Warden Service and an RSPCA inspector, executed a warrant under the Dangerous Dogs Act at the third floor flat off Springmill Street, West Bowling.

They were responding to information that a 30-year-old man living at the address had bought illegal pit bull terriers.

Seven officers went to the flat and entry was forced when nobody answered the door.

No dogs were foundand the occupier was not at home, but dog food and a bowl, photos of pit bull terriers and a book about training American pit bulls were discovered.

Police seized a number of items for examination.

Sergeant Osman Khan said the warrant had not paid immediate dividends but dogs had been at the flat and inquiries would be continuing.

He said: "We were acting on information received that a person was breeding and preparing illegal pit bulls for dog fighting from the address. We have seized certain items which could be used for evidential purposes."

HOW YOU CAN SIGN OUR PETITION

You can back our Curb the Danger Dogs Campaign by signing our petition, which will be sub-mitted to the Home Secretary, John Reid.

We want to collect as many signatures as possible in the next month to show Mr Reid the strength of feeling in the district about the inadequacies of the Dangerous Dogs Act and to put pres-sure on him to better protect the public against dog attacks by acting on the changes to the law we have outlined on the petition.

You can support our campaign simply by adding your own name on the petition online at our publication's website www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk. Or you can print out the petition and ask family, friends and colleagues to sign as well. The more signatures we receive, the stronger our message.

But whatever you can do will add weight to our campaign and help to make it clear to Mr Reid the strength of public feeling regarding the desperate need to change the current law.

Remember, you need to return copies of the petition to the T&A (the address is at the foot of the form) by Thursday, October 12.

We will then submit all the forms we receive to the Home Office.

  • Click here to sign the petition on-line

  • Or click here to download a copy of the petition to print out