A POLICE dog called Bosco has landed a North-East police force with a legal headache amid claims that he is too good at his job.

The German shepherd is at the centre of mounting calls for it to be banned following a series of attacks in Middlesbrough.

Cleveland Police faces ten personal injury claims from people who have suffered at the jaws of the dog dubbed "The Beast of the Boro" - the latest being a 15-year-old boy.

The solicitor representing them, Scott Taylor of Teesside firm Watson Woodhouse, has called on Barry Shaw, Chief Constable of Cleveland, to sideline Bosco under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

"Recently, we noticed an unusually high number of clients who were coming to us saying they had been savaged by a police dog," said Mr Taylor.

"On closer inspection, it emerged they were all talking about the same dog, who is recognisable by his fluffy rather than sleek face.

"Bosco has become infamous on the streets of Middlesbrough and we now have ten separate cases in which clients are claiming damages."

Bosco is known to strike fear into the hearts of criminals across Middlesbrough - but there is increasing concern that he poses a serious risk to law-abiding members of the public. "Half of the cases involve innocent members of the public," said Mr Taylor.

Telephone engineer Laurie Agar, 35, suffered several bites, as he walked home following an evening out with friends.

Mr Agar, who has no criminal convictions, spent several days in hospital and needed nine months of treatment after the attack. He has a permanent five-inch scar on his thigh.

Mr Taylor has learned that, in 1997 alone, Bosco bit 20 people in the course of his duties.

"I have now written to the Chief Constable calling on him to remove Bosco from duty because he is a menace under the Dangerous Dogs Act."

Cleveland Police declined to make any comment