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A pensioner has appeared in court after two young children were injured in a dog attack.

Fredrick Farnsworth, 72, has been charged with two counts of being in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control and caused injury.

Lewis Barkley, 11, was left seriously injured following the incident in Liverpool at about 5.30pm on Sunday.



Another boy, aged 12, suffered minor injuries.

The court heard the charges related to two Staffordshire bull terrier-type dogs.

Chair of the bench Anthony Canning said the case would be sent to Liverpool Crown Court , where Farnsworth is due to appear on July 24.

The defendant was given unconditional bail.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said officers had been called to the scene following reports a dog had bitten an 11-year-old boy to the legs, arms, face and back.

He said: "Police took the boy, aged 11, to hospital where he remains in a serious, but not life-threatening, condition.

"Enquiries have established that a second child suffered minor injuries during the attack.

"The boy, aged 12, was taken to hospital for treatment."