A woman in her 70s has died after being attacked by a dog, Warwickshire Police have said.

Officers were called to Kathleen Avenue in Bedworth at 3.50pm on Friday but the victim was declared dead at the scene.

A 52-year-old man and 49-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of possession of a banned dog breed and owning a dog dangerously out of control.

The woman is in hospital being treated for an non-life threatening injury caused by the dog. The man has been released on bail.

Warwickshire Police superintendent Sutherland Lane described it as a “tragic isolated incident”.

“Thankfully dog attacks of this nature are exceedingly rare, but I recognise this will be deeply upsetting for the local community,” they said.

“The public can expect to see a heightened police presence in and around the area while we conduct our enquiries.”

It comes after a 37-year-old man died after being attacked by a “dangerously out of control” dog in Leigh, Greater Manchester last month.

Separately a five-month-old baby was taken to hospital after being bitten by a dog in Caerphilly.

At the end of April, a 53-year-old man was charged over a dog attack that killed 51-year-old Wayne Stephens in Derby.