A top animal behaviour expert has called for all canines to be microchipped following a spate of dog attacks in Preston.

Dr David Sands, head of The Lancashire Animal Behavioural Clinic, said that amendments should be made to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, introducing a law to microchip all dogs, making them traceable.

It comes after a two-year-old boy was savaged last Wednesday by the family pet of five years.

Joshua Vickers was at home in Brookfield Road, Preston, with his mother Cheryl Vickers, 24, when he was attacked by the rottweiler Alsatian cross-breed.

Cheryl, who also has a nine-month-old baby, Leighton, said: "It was awful, one minute he was playing in the living room and then the dog was on top of Josh, and he was covered in blood. I just couldn't believe what had happened."

Joshua is now recovering at home. The dog was put down.

Dr Sands suggested that as well as microchipping pets, owners should go through stringent temperament tests showing that they can control their dog.

He said: "There are usually clusters of attacks around holiday times but owners need to take far more responsibility for their pets, as all dogs have predatory tendencies."

The attack on Joshua is the latest in a series of dog attacks in the county.