Woman remains in hospital after XL Bully attack in Holt

She was trying to break up a fight between two dogs at the property in the genteel market town of Holt when the animals turned on her.

The woman, who is in her 20s, was able to barricade herself into the bathroom for her safety before shouting for help.

A neighbour in the quiet cul-de-sac raised the alarm and called 999 (Image: Denise Bradley)

A neighbour in Pheasant Close, a quiet cul-de-sac on the edge of the town, heard her cries and raised the alarm.

Firefighters as well as police were sent to the scene and locals say fire crews had to help the woman escape from the property through a window, to avoid the dogs.

The incident happened shortly before midnight on Tuesday.

The victim was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where she remains.

Police confirmed that one of the dogs, an XL Bully, has since been destroyed.

The other animal - which neighbours have described as a pitbull-type dog - has been seized by officers and experts are trying to determine its breed.

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A spokeswoman for Norfolk Police confirmed that it was still investigating the incident.

Restrictions on XL Bully ownership came in to force on February 1, 2024, and it is an offence to own one without an exemption certificate.

The government introduced the changes after a series of attacks involving the breed.

The government recently imposed restrictions on the owners of XL Bullies (Image: Denise Bradley)

In November, the owner of a six stone XL Bully was left with life-changing injuries after the dog set on her in her garden in Brisley, near Dereham.

The attack lasted more than half an hour before police arrived and were able to get the animal, named Denvor, off her.

The dog then escaped from the garden and made its way to the grounds of a nearby school, where it was killed by police.

Government officials say there have been 23 deaths caused by dog attacks since the start of 2021, with XL Bullies "disproportionately involved".

As well as it being illegal to own an XL Bully without a certificate, it is also now an offence to sell, abandon, give away, breed or walk one without a lead and muzzle.