A British toddler described by his mother as "the sweetest child" has been mauled to death by a pitbull.

Leon Dulia, two, was fatally wounded by the rescue animal which was chained up in the garden. Leon's mum, 32-year-old Robbie Deeth, said that hunters were using guns and whistles in a nearby woods, which she believes "spooked" the dog into attacking.

She told the Daily Mail: "There had never been an issue with him since we got him and he let Leon tickle his tummy and stroke him and he would lick Leon’s face; he was never any trouble. Leon would play with him all the time.

"Something just flicked in him and in the 30 seconds we went inside to sort out the shopping Leon wandered off to see him and then it was all over, Leon was grabbed or shaken, it looked like he was bitten just the o

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