Horrified neighbours have paid tribute to a four-year-old girl who was mauled to death by a dog at her home in Milton Keynes.
Little Alice Stones was savaged by the animal in her back garden in Broadlands, Netherfield last night.
Armed police raided the home, where it is believed they cornered the dog and destroyed it. Thames Valley Police has said no arrests have been made as they investigate the attack.
Locals left flowers outside the house this morning, while others described Alice's mother's 'desperate screams' as her child was killed by the animal, which neighbours claimed the family bought about six weeks ago.
'I heard 'She's dead! She's dead!' a neighbour claimed. 'They'll stay with me forever. It was a nightmare. I'm heartbroken. They will haunt me.'
Police say no one else was hurt and the girl's family is being supported by specially trained officers. Officers remain on scene today as their investigation into the incident continues.
Alice Stones, 4, was pronounced dead at the scene after having been seriously injured in the attack in the back garden of her home in Broadlands, Netherfield
Community members are laying flowers at a makeshift memorial outside a home in Milton Keynes this morning in remembrance of a four-year-old girl who was mauled to death by a dog
Police are at a home in Broadlands, Netherfield, Milton Keynes today after a four-year-old girl died yesterday following reports of a dog attack in the back garden of the property
Officers and paramedics responded to the home in Broadlands, Netherfield just past 5pm yesterday after receiving reports that a dog had attacked a child in the back garden of a property.
Armed officers swooped on the property 'very quickly' and ordered neighbours to stay indoors as they cornered the animal before 'humanely' destroying it.
A neighbour whose children go to school with Alice told The Sun that residents were instructed by police to stay inside in case the dog were to escape.
An officer reportedly said: 'If this dog gets out, somebody is going to get hurt.'
The neighbour described the animal as a 'big brown dog' that the family seemingly got as a pet a few weeks back. The resident said they have 'only seen it at the house.'
Police confirmed last night that the dog has since been 'humanely destroyed', but did not disclose the method in which it was killed.
No arrests have been made in connection with the investigation.
Officers and paramedics responded to a home in Broadlands, Netherfield just past 5pm yesterday after receiving reports that a dog had attacked a child in the back garden of a property
Officers are pictured at the home this morning, which appears to still be cordoned off
Neighbours were ordered to stay indoors as police cornered the animal before 'humanely' destroying it. Pictured: Thames Valley Police on the scene of the attack
Community members said police but the neighbourhood 'basically on lockdown' as after they responded to the scene.
The family's next door neighbour described trying to go look at his back garden but was ordered to go back inside.
He claims about an hour later armed officers knocked on his door requesting to come into his home so they could look at the lay out of his home and 'get an idea of what next door would look like.'
Shortly after that, the man claims police advised him that it was 'best if I leave the house.'
Another neighbour, speaking to The MK Citizen last night said that police warned residents they 'may hear a gunshot' as they instructed them to evacuate the area.
Forensic tents and police vehicles are pictured at the scene in Milton Keynes last night
Residents were instructed by police to stay inside in case the dog were to escape. Pictured: Police at the the crime scene last night
The child was pronounced dead at the scene after having been seriously injured in the attack. Her official cause of death has not been disclosed. Police are pictured at the scene yesterday
A bouquet of flowers was left near the crime scene last night in remembrance of the four-year-old girl who was killed by the dog
'This is an absolutely tragic incident in which we believe that a child has been killed after being attacked by a dog, ' Thames Valley Police Superintendent Matt Bullivant said last night.
'Clearly we are in the very early stages of an investigation, and it would be wrong and unhelpful to speculate as to the exact circumstances of this incident at this point.
'However, in order to ensure public safety, a decision was made earlier this evening to destroy the dog involved, and this has been done humanely.
'I understand how much of an impact this will have on the community and on the wider public, and people can expect to see a large police presence in the area this evening and beyond while our investigation continues.
'I would like to reassure people that there is no reason to believe there is any danger to the wider public at this time.
'Anyone with concerns should feel free to approach our officers and ask questions, but I urge people not to speculate about the circumstances, especially on social media platforms.
'I also understand that this case is likely to attract attention from the media. With this in mind I would like to ask that the privacy of the family involved is respected at this very difficult time. It is impossible to imagine what they must be going through at the moment.'
The force urged anyone with information about the incident to call 101 quoting reference number 20230131-1546 or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Reports can also be made online.
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