ANIMAL experts say dog owners need to take more responsibility for their pets after a pit bull terrier-style dog killed a five-year-old girl.

The RSPCA in Bolton says owners need to ensure their pets are properly looked after and trained in a bid to protect people from dangerous dogs.

Ellie Lawrenson suffered fatal injuries when she was attacked by the dog at a house in Eccleston, St Helens, early on Monday. She died at the scene from severe head and neck injuries.

The dog, which was shot by police marksmen, also bit Ellie's grandmother Jackie Simpson, aged 46, on her arms and legs.

Police in Merseyside yesterday confirmed the dog was a "pit bull terrier type". The decision means the dog's owner, named locally as Kiel Simpson, could be charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Kathy Kay, branch administrator for Bolton RSPCA said yesterday: "All dogs can be dangerous and they need to be trained and looked after well. If a dog is around a child it does not know well, the owner should keep a close eye on it."

Mrs Kay said: "Pure-bred pit bulls were supposed to be fazed out in the 1990s, but you will always get back street breeders who try to make dogs look like pit bulls."

But she added that if a dog was violent with other dogs, it did not necessarily follow that it would attack people.

Yesterday Ellie's family paid a moving tribute to her. In a statement, relatives said they were "absolutely devastated" at the loss of their "little angel".