ARMED police shot a dog dead after it attacked a man in a village near Selby.

The victim suffered injuries to his arm and leg before police arrived and took the decision to kill the German shepherd dog, which was described as “extremely aggressive”.

Police were called to Morton Lane, just outside the village of Gateforth, after receiving calls that a man had been attacked by an uncontrolled dog.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “Upon arrival, we found the dog to be in a poor state of health and extremely aggressive.

“Firearms officers were called to the scene and the dog was destroyed.

“Arrangements were made for Selby District Council’s environmental health department to recover the dog’s body.

“The man who was attacked received minor injuries to his leg and forearm which required hospital treatment.”

North Yorkshire Police who received the call at 4.15pm on Monday have launched an appeal for the owner of the animal, which was wearing no identification collar, to come forward. However, they suspect it to have been living wild for some time.

In an attempt to discover where the animal had come from, the spokesman said: “It was a male dog which looked emaciated and had fur missing from its hind quarters.

“It also looked like it had damaged its hind legs.

“It looked like it was in pain and appeared to be starving and obviously distressed.

“It was extremely aggressive and we just couldn’t have a dog going around like that and the safest thing for the public was to destroy it.

“We don’t like having to do this sort of thing, but it is in the best interests of the public.”

The district council said its dog warden was aware of the incident, but said no medical examination of the dog’s body would take place to discover a reason for its aggression and poor state of health.

Coun Chris Pearson, who represents the village for the council, said: “I am most concerned about this and the owner must come forward and admit this is their dog.”

Anyone with information should phone 0845 60 60 247.