A man whose dog killed his young niece could be prosecuted under the UK's Dangerous Dogs Act after it was confirmed the animal was a type of pit bull terrier.
Ellie Lawrenson, five, was mauled to death at her grandmother's home in St Helens, Merseyside, in the early hours of New Year's Day. She was staying there while her parents, Lyndsay Simpson and Darren Lawrenson, aged 24 and 30, celebrated the new year.
Members of Ellie's family last night wept and hugged each other as they laid flowers at the police cordon outside the house where the attack took place.
The dog, a one-year-old male named Reuben, was owned by her uncle, Kiel Simpson, who lived in the same house.
The animal was shot dead at the scene by police marksmen. Its corpse was examined by a dog expert from the Metropolitan Police. He confirmed that the animal was a "pit bull terrier type".
Pit bulls are one of four breeds banned under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, and anyone proved to have flouted the law could be jailed for six months.
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokeswoman said: "If a person is found to be guilty of illegal possession of a prohibited dog they could face a £5,000 fine and/or six months in prison."
Superintendent John Ward, of Merseyside Police, said that the expert's finding would be considered as part of the investigation.
He said: "An assessment has been made by a recognised expert on the Dangerous Dogs Act, from the Metropolitan Police, and he has confirmed that the dog was a pit bull terrier type. The results of this post mortem will now be included in the investigation and we will be speaking to all family members about the circumstances leading up to this tragedy.
"As soon as the investigation is completed, a report will be presented to the coroner and Crown Prosecution Service in terms of considering what offences, if any, have been committed."