ALARMING new figures reveal a dramatic rise in dog attacks on children, with North-East hospitals reporting more incidents than almost anywhere else in the country.

The number of children in the region needing medical treatment after being bitten by a dog has more than doubled in the past eight years.

Campaigners say the figures, released today by the Liberal Democrats, show the Dangerous Dogs Act is not working.

The report shows that 365 people in the region needed hospital treatment in 2007-8 after being attacked by a dog.

The figures also reveal that 106 of the people attacked were children – and 61 of those were under ten.

In 2000-1, 257 people received medical attention in hospital, including 44 children, of whom 32 were under ten.

Nationally, nearly 25,000 people, including almost 6,000 children under ten, have required hospital treatment for dog bites in the past eight years.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said: “The Dangerous Dogs Act is one of most ineffective pieces of legislation of recent years, costing millions and being completely unworkable.

“The huge rise in attacks is undoubtedly due to the worrying trend of dangerous dogs being used as fashion accessories or, worse, as weapons.”

He said the police needed to be able to get tough with reckless owners of out-of-control dogs, regardless of the breed.

Three North-East hospital trusts feature in a list of 11 with the largest number of incidents in 2007-8.

They are Newcastle, with 115 attacks, South Tees, with 100, and County Durham and Darlington, with 77.

Among those attacked in 2008 was a ten-year-old boy who suffered deep wounds to his body and head from a dog on Darlington’s Red Hall Estate.

He had to undergo skin grafts at the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, following the incident.

The same year, a four-yearold boy in Westgate Road, Guisborough, east Cleveland, was bitten on the face by a dog whose owner ran away following the attack.

And in February 2008, a tenyear- old girl suffered a 6cm cut to her cheek when she was bitten by a Staffordshire bull terrier at the Alanbrooke Barracks, in Topcliffe, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

In Shildon, County Durham, more than 1,000 people have a signed a petition calling for tougher action against dangerous dogs in the town.

The petition was launched after several attacks by dogs on other pets.

Councillor Brian Stephens, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, who represents the town, received the petition from residents.

He said the problem of dangerous dogs was a serious issue for the region.

“In some instances the issue of dangerous dogs has cost youngsters elsewhere in the country their lives and it is an issue that we will always take seriously,” he added.

The RSPCA said recent incidents in which dogs had attacked children had shocked the public and made everyone aware of the danger that dogs can pose.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: “We are saddened by these incidents and indeed this latest report detailing an increase in attacks on small children. Our sympathies go out to those affected, and to their families and friends.

“In response to dogs acting dangerously, the RSPCA has long stated its desire for the law to put more emphasis of responsibility on dog owners, rather than to penalise specific breeds.”

The charity said that in the vast majority of cases, potential problems could be avoided through responsible pet ownership.