A STRAY dog has been impounded by dog welfare officers who suspect it may be a banned pit bull-type breed.

Now the dog's owner must wait for experts to rule on what breed it is is before discovering whether it will be returned to her.

Six-year-old Gnasher, who se owner Donna Whittle says is a cross-bred Staffordshire Terrier, is currently at Bolton Destitute Animal Centre after escaping from home and being picked up by dog wardens.

Bosses at the shelter were told by Bolton Council officials not to give the dog back unless it could be proved that it was not a pit bull type - similar to the breed that savaged five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson in St Helens on New Year's Day.

Since 1991 it has been illegal to own a pit bull terrier type breed unless it is registered. But many owners do not realise their pets are cross-bred pit bulls.

Identification is difficult and a points-based system uses features such as the size of the animal's jaw to determine whether it is a pit bull.

"I'm not impressed," said Mrs Whittle, of Pimlott Road, Hall i'th' Wood.

"They haven't taken Gnasher under the dangerous dogs act. They've just taken him because he was out on the streets.

"This is an over-reaction because of what happened in St Helens."

The mum-of-four said her eldest children Carlos, six, and Kian, five, were devastated at losing the family pet.

"He's a real soft dog and he'll play with anybody. I've never had any worries with the kids.

"Normally, I take him out on a lead with a muzzle.

Mrs Whittle said she had bought Gnasher 18 months ago from a friend who was moving house.

The dog has never attacked anyone or shown aggressive tendencies but Gnasher escaped on Wednesday after Mrs Whittle had left a gate unlocked as she was emptying dustbins.

The dog was handed to wardens by a member of the public, concerned that it could be dangerous, before it was taken to the Destitute Animal Centre in Great Lever.

Centre manager Karen Rickards said she had been informed by Bolton Council's dog control unit that she was not allowed to release Gnasher.

"We don't have any authority to say it is or isn't a pit bull," she said.

"All we are doing is holding the dog until we are told to do otherwise. It will be well looked after."

A spokeswoman for Bolton Council said: "A dog that resembles a pit bull-type breed was picked up by a dog warden on Wednesday morning.

"Pit bulls are prohibited under the dangerous dogs act 1991 and we have asked specialists to conduct further investigations to establish this animal's breed."