Police are hunting for a Rottweiler dog which savaged a boy's face.

Kevin Lennon, 14, of Gordon Street, Keighley, needed 11 stitches in the bite wound around his right eye and lip.

The dog struck as Kevin, a pupil at Greenhead School, Keighley, and a friend, were walking along Arctic Street, Keighley, on Tuesday lunch-time.

Police have appealed for information about the animal, believed to be a fully-grown Rottweiler, which had no identifying collar.

Kevin and his friend kicked out and fought off the animal after it pounced as they walked towards Beechcliffe fish and chip shop.

Kevin said: "We were terrified. I was scared it was going to get another grip.

"We were playing truant and I was going to go back to school at lunchtime, but had lost my pass, so my friend said he would buy me fish and chips.

"We were near the shop when we saw this dog come round the corner. It seemed pleasant enough, but because it was a Rottweiler we decided to walk round it.

"It then sat in front of us and suddenly dived at my face and bit me round the eye and caught my lip as it came down. We kicked out and it ran off."

Bleeding badly, Kevin ran to a nearby doctor's surgery. Staff called the school and his mother, Gillian Lennon, was contacted.

A teacher took him to Airedale Hospital where he was met by his mother and received treatment.

Mrs Lennon, 39, said: "He is very lucky - any closer and he could have lost an eye. He is badly bruised and has difficulty eating and drinking.

"That dog needs catching quickly in case it attacks somebody else - next time it might be a small child."

She said doctors were optimistic that Kevin's wounds would heal properly.

Margaret Platts, Greenhead's deputy head teacher, said staff became aware Kevin was playing truant when he failed to turn up for the second lesson.

She said: "If he had gone for the rest of the day we would have informed the family but events overtook us. It is distressing if any of our students are involved in anything like this"

l Anyone who saw the attack or can identify the animal involved is asked to call PC Brian Woolland on (01535) 617059.

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