THE woman arrested in connection with the death of a three-year-old boy after he was bitten by a dog has been bailed.

Dexter Neal, aged three, from Ronald Road in Halstead, sustained injuries after being bitten by a dog in a property at around 5.40pm yesterday.

He was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge but tragically died from his injuries.

Gazette:

A 29-year-old woman from Halstead arrested for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control injuring a person has now been released on bail until October 19.

The dog has been seized by police and placed in kennels. The breed of the dog has been identified as an American Bulldog.

Mother-of-five Lisa Smith, 43, who lives in Parker Way, said the family who lived at the address behind the police cordon "kept themselves to themselves" and had not lived in the street as long as her other neighbours.

She said: "They're very private people to be fair.

"It's just terrible. I just feel so sorry for them."

Phyllis Younger, who has lived in Parker Way for 58 years, said she heard screaming at around 5.45pm, with emergency services arriving shortly afterwards.

The 82-year-old said the screaming "did not go on for long" and she was sure they were from a child who was outside.

She said: "Now I know what the scream was, it is absolutely awful.

"It was like someone was in pain, definitely - agonising screams. It is terrible.

"I don't think I would have heard it as clearly if it had been in the house."

Shirley Diver, mayor of Halstead Town Council, said: "It is an absolute tragedy, the whole town will be completely shocked and devastated by this.

"It is such a terrible thing to happen anywhere, you just don't expect it to happen in your town. We are a close-knit community, everybody knows everybody."

Halstead's MP James Cleverly said: "It's a small town with a very strong sense of community and this will be a massive shock. It will be a body blow to the town.

"There's a huge sense of civic pride and when news like this happens in your local area it's a real shock."

An ambulance service spokesman said: ""The service received a call yesterday (Thursday) at 5.40pm to reports of an incident in Halstead.

Two rapid response vehicles, two ambulance officers, an ambulance crew and the EHAAT were sent. At the scene a young child was treated for life-threatening injuries before being air lifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital.

"Sadly despite the best efforts of everyone involved, the child died and our thoughts are with the family involved at this time."