Armed police officers have "destroyed" two suspected XL Bully devil dogs - after they dragged a passing 84 year-old man into a garden and viciously mauled him.

       Gun-wielding cops swooped on the residential street in Warrington, in Cheshire, after the pensioner was set upon by the devil dogs described by Cheshire Police's chief constable as "weapons".

       The force said the elderly man was rushed to Aintree Hospital accident and emergency department from the scene in Bardsley Avenue, in Dallam, Warrington, at around 6.40pm on Monday.

       Officers confirmed two large powerful dogs, believed to be banned XL bullies, were "destroyed" at the scene, with a third dog seized.

       Police say the pensioner was walking along the street when attacked by a dog that had escaped from a nearby property.

       Officers have arrested a 29-year-old woman on suspicion of being in possession of a dog dangerously out of control causing serious injury. She remains in police custody, assisting officers with their enquiries.

       Police are also trying to find a 40-year-old man in connection with the incident. Enquiries are ongoing and witnesses are being urged to come forward.

       A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "At around 6.40pm on February 24th police were called to reports of a dog attack at an address on Bardsley Avenue, Warrington.

       "Officers, supported by the firearms unit, attended the scene, and on arrival, they found that an 84-year-old man had sustained serious injuries.

       "He has since been taken to Aintree Hospital. Two dogs, believed to be XL bully dogs, were destroyed by officers at the scene, and a third small dog was also seized."

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       Chief Constable Mark Roberts, of Cheshire Police, said: “This was an innocent man who was simply walking in the street when he was horrifically attacked by a suspected unregistered XL bully.

       "These dogs are like weapons; their physical attributes can make it like owning a loaded firearm with a questionable safety catch.

       "The sheer size and ferocity of these animals mean that our firearms officers had to discharge 19 shots into them - all of which hit their targets - in order bring the incident to a conclusion and ensure the safety of the public.

       "While the victim is now receiving the treatment that he requires, there is no doubt that this incident will impact him for the rest of his life.

       "The danger to the public that these dogs pose is well known, which is why Cheshire Constabulary has been extremely proactive in enforcing the new regulations.

       "So far we have already removed more than 100 XL Bullies from the streets of Cheshire, and we are committed to doing all we can to ensure that those who don’t comply with the new regulations are held accountable."

       Locals have taken to Facebook and social media expressing their hopes the man recovers quickly.

       Kirsty Fenton said: "Thoughts are with the man involved, hoping he makes a full recovery."

       While resident Claire Heaton added: "Thoughts are with the poor man hope the man is ok."

       An XL bully are not a specific breed but instead the largest kind of American bully dog, described in Government guidance as having "a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for their size".

       It is a year since strict rules about owning XL bully dogs were first introduced in the UK following a number of high-profile fatal attacks involving the dogs.

       There are no official figures for the number of XL bullies in the UK, but dogs are considered XLs if they meet the minimum height and a substantial number of other characteristics.

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       Male XL dogs stand from 20in (51cm) high at the shoulder, with female XLs only slightly smaller.

       NHS consultant Richard Baker said the dogs' powerful jaws inflict more damaging wounds than those of other breeds, resulting in broken bones, shredded skin and damaged nerves.

       "It's a crushing or a tearing injury," he said. "Once they grip, they don't let go."

       There were 10,924 hospital admissions for dog bites in England in 2023-24, up from 9,424 in 2022-23.

       When the previous government announced the XL bully ban for England and Wales in late 2023, it said the breed had been "disproportionately involved" in deaths recorded since 2021.