The heartbroken family of a toddler tragically mauled to death by a dog have paid tribute to her.
In a brief statement, the family of Bella-Rae Birch, named today by police, thanked the local community for their support and described the toddler as 'much loved'.
A statement released on their behalf by Merseyside Police said: "As a family we would like to thank the community for their support.
"We would ask that we are now allowed some space and time to try and come to terms with the tragic loss of our much-loved Bella-Rae.
"She will be sadly missed but never forgotten."
The toddler died after being mauled to death by a ‘stocky Staffordshire terrier or Pitbull’, tearful neighbours said yesterday.
Bella-Rae Birch was just 17-months-old when she was attacked in her home in St Helens, Merseyside yesterday.
The child suffered fatal injuries after being attacked by the pet, which the family only bought a week earlier.
An outpouring of grief on the quiet estate continued as neighbours continued to leave flowers and tributes.
One neighbour said: "You see it on the news, but when it happens on your doorstep it's devastating for the whole community.
"It's just heartbreaking. The brother of the little girl is in my boy's class at school.
"My dad ran over and tried to perform CPR, he's really devastated. He's still in shock and won't speak."
A trainee paramedic has described the moment she pulled up at the house where a baby girl was mauled to death by a dog and tried to save her life.
The heroic neighbour, who identified herself only as Jordan, said she had picked her children up from school and saw the commotion when she returned home.
She said there were 'around 20 police cars' outside the house and she rushed over to desperately perform CPR on the tragic tot until the paramedics took over.
Jordan, who lives on a nearby road to the road from the family, said the baby's "devastated" mother Treysharn Bates was "crying hysterically" outside the house moments after yesterday’s horror attack.
She said: "I pulled up in my car. I had been getting my kids from school.
"I heard screaming, and I ran over. I tried to help. People were everywhere. They were crying and screaming. The baby wasn't well. I tried to help her.
"I started CPR, which I did for around 30 seconds. It was just myself. Then the paramedics took over. The parents were hysterical.
"I didn't see the dog. We don't really go up there. I don't know how I feel now.
"There were about 20 police cars. I'd never seen the dog out before."
The town's Labour MP Conor McGinn said: "The close-knit community in Blackbrook and across St Helens are in deep shock after yesterday's tragedy.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the little girl's family, who are devastated. I know everyone locally will respect their request for privacy as they grieve."
Superintendant Steve Brizell today said in a press conference: "The community of Blackbrook and the whole of Merseyside has woken up today to the most tragic news.
"Officers were called to a house on Bidston avenue at around 3.50pm yesterday.
"We were called by the family of a 17 month old girl Bella-Rae Birch, Bella Rae has lost her life in the most unimaginably terrible circumstances and our thoughts are first and foremost with the family and the wider community at this time.
"Our specialist family liaison officers are providing the family of Bella-Rae with support and officers will remain in the area in the coming days to provide further support and reassurance for the wider community.
"At this stage we understand the family dog they had bought just a week earlier has attacked Bella-Rae in the family home.
"Bella-Rae was taken to hospital by ambulance by paramedics but despite the best efforts of police officers paramedics at the scene and doctors Bella-Rae sadly died as a result of her injuries yesterday afternoon.
"It has left a family and a community grieving and in complete shock.
"During the incident the dog was handed over to police at the address and has been humanely destroyed. Detailed investigations are continue into this tragic event forensic examinations to determine the dogs breed are ongoing and we are working to identify all the previous owners of the dog so we can establish its history.
"I want to appeal to anyone who was in the Bidston Avenue area yesterday afternoon and witnessed anything or has any information about the dog in question to please come forward and speak to one of officers. That can be done on twitter @merseypolcc or on Facebook. Alternatively people can contact crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 11"
