SCHOOLBOY Jamie Bourton may need plastic surgery after he was savaged by a rottweiler just yards from his home.

Jamie - who is afraid of dogs after being bitten previously - ran when he saw the dog as he played in the street, near his house, in Middlesbrough.

But when he fled, the dog, which had apparently slipped its leash, gave chase and pounced.

Jamie was knocked to the ground screaming and the dog clamped its jaw around the youngster's right thigh.

A youth, who had been in charge of the dog for its owner, pulled the animal off. He then took Jamie home to his mother, who had heard her son's screams from the family home, in Darras Walk, Pallister Park.

Jamie was taken by ambulance to Middlesbrough General Hospital where his wound, which went down to his thigh bone, needed internal and external stitches.

Police were called, and the dog was taken into the care of Middlesbrough Borough Council, while an investigation is carried out.

Yesterday, Jamie, a pupil at Pallister Park Primary School, was recovering at home after the attack, last Thursday night.

He was released from hospital at the weekend and has been traumatised by the incident.

His mum Denise White, 38, said: "I want this dog destroyed because who knows who else it might attack if it gets the chance."

Jobless Denise, who has a ten-year-old daughter, Sara, said: "Jamie hadn't been teasing the dog or anything, it just went for him.

"He has been very distressed by what happened and is in a lot of pain. He won't even go out of the house now because he's so scared.

"I'm sure he will be scarred. He might even need plastic surgery and skin grafts in the weeks to come, we just don't know yet."

Cleveland Police confirmed that two people have been reported for summons for being in charge of a dangerous dog in a public place