Four dogs, believed to be pit bull terrier types, have been seized in a police-led raid at a house in Bradford.

Neighbourhood Policing Team officers, supported by the Bradford Council Dog Warden Service and the RSPCA, swooped on a semi-detached Bradford Community Housing Trust property in Parkside Road, West Bowling.

A male dog, with an injured front leg, was found chained to a kennel in the back garden. A female dog and a pair of four-month-old pups were discovered in an adjoining garage.

Officers also found dog weighing scales and tablets at the premises.

Inspector Graham Sowden, of the Bradford South NPT, said the dogs were believed to be pit bull terrier types and they were looking into whether the male had been used in dog fighting.

A 30-year-old man was arrested and later released on police bail until next month.

The dogs were taken to a secret location by the RSPCA and experts will be examining them to establish their breed.

Insp Sowden said the arrested man, a married father-of-four, admitted owning the dogs but claimed they were legal Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

He said the dogs would be subject to DNA analysis. The tablets will also be analysed.

Insp Sowden said if the dogs were proved to be illegal breeds police would be going to court to seek an order for their destruction.

Bradford Dog Warden Service manager Terry Singh said they had assisted the police in enforcing a warrant under the Dangerous Dogs Act. The male dog had been passed to the RSPCA because it needed veterinary treatment.

He said: "This was a successful joint exercise between all organisations. We have to safeguard the public and we don't want to see these dogs being allowed to cross breed."

e-mail: steve.wright@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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