Police shoot dogs dead after horse bitten

Two dogs were shot dead by police after a horse was reportedly bitten in woodland in South Yorkshire.

The incident happened in the North Anston area of Rotherham on Monday.

South Yorkshire Police said the dogs, believed to be an XL bully and a mixed breed, remained "dangerously out of control" when officers arrived and that the animals posed a risk to nearby walkers and children.

Police have condemned "abuse" aimed at officers for shooting the animals.

Ch Insp Emma Cheney said: "We understand this is an extremely distressing incident for the dogs' owners.

"Shooting a dog is never a decision taken lightly by our armed officers, many of whom are dog owners themselves, but the safety of our communities and officers will always be paramount."

On Thursday, the force said the incident was one of 18 dangerous dogs cases reported to it in the space of three days.

The comments were made after a GP surgery in Sheffield was briefly placed into lockdown after a 33-year-old man was allegedly attacked by a Japanese Akita that morning.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.