CHILDREN watched in horror as a man beat his dog to death in the street.

A man, thought to be in his twenties, was said to have dragged the Staffordshire Bull Terrier crossbreed through Levens Drive, in Breightmet, before stamping on its head until it did not move.

Tyler Hough, aged 13, witnessed the incident as she walked home from a neighbour's house.

Her mother, Julie, called police from the street where residents had heard the animal's cries and tried to stop the attack. The incident happened at 11pm last Friday. Police arrested a man on suspicion of a public order offence and he has been bailed until January 22 pending further inquiries.

The 12-month-old dog was taken away to be treated by pet medics - a specialist police unit based in Walkden - but died from its injuries the following morning. It was thought to have been pregnant.

Miss Hough, aged 44, who lives in the road with her daughters, Tyler, aged 13, and Lindsay, aged 23, and has an eight-year-old dog, Rex, said: "Tyler was absolutely devastated. By the time I got outside the dog was bleeding, it was hanging off the pavement with its tongue hanging out and was limp and lifeless.

"Our dog came out to try and lick its wounds, it was so defenceless.

"I've never heard of such a cruel act, it was so upsetting, especially for the children."

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "We received a report of a disturbance in the street. The witness said that a man was jumping and stamping on his dog."

Kathy Kay, who has worked with Bolton RSPCA for 35 years, said it was one of the most upsetting cases of animal cruelty she had heard of.

She said: "This is one of the worst cases we've known in Bolton. Thankfully we rarely hear of such shocking incidents, but when it happens on your doorstep it can be very difficult to deal with.

"To do something like this beggars belief, it is without reason and I hope whoever is responsible is given a suitable punishment. It is so upsetting."