Mother and son in court after schoolboy mauled by XL bully in Bootle

ITV News corespondent Rachel Townsend has the latest from Liverpool Magistrates Court.

A mother and son have appeared in court charged in connection with an XL bully attack which left an eight-year-old boy with life-changing injuries. Police were called to Wadham Road in Bootle just after 5:20pm on Saturday, February 10, following reports of the "horrific" attack.

The boy was bitten on the head by the dog, called Snoop, in the communal area of a block of flats and suffered serious, life-changing injuries.

Lewis Young, 30, and his mother, Amanda Young, 49, both of Wadham Road in Bootle, stand accused of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury.

They are not related to the injured schoolboy.

Both defendants, who appeared separately, chose not to enter a plea at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday, 12 February.

They will both appear at a further hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on 11 March.

Merseyside Police has seized the dog, which was destroyed with the agreement of the owner.