GOSSIPING neighbours have been slammed by a woman whose grandson was savaged by the family pet.

Robert Margieson's left arm was torn apart by Jake, a rottweiler-alsatian cross, at his home in Brierley Avenue, Whitefield

He was taken to Bury General Hospital and then transferred to Fairfield Hospital where he received 25 stitches in the wound. Robert's grandmother Dora Margieson has been upset by stories that Robert was partly to blame for the attack.

She said: "Most of the neighbours have been great and I want to thank them. But it is being implied by some that Robert provoked Jake and got all he deserved.

"One person even said it to my face. This is entirely wrong. I approached Robert with a message which had been left for him. In a split second as he turned towards me the dog flew at him.

"One attack is more than enough without vicious gossip."

Robert (19) lives with his grandparents and younger brother, ten-year-old Adam.

He said: "The dog jumped on my back from out of nowhere. I ran to the kitchen trying to shake him off.

"I had to trap Jake in a door before he would let go."

The pet was put down on the same day .

Robert, who works at a Radcliffe plastics firm, hopes to return to duty next week.

He added: "God knows what Jake could have done if he had attacked Adam. He could have torn his arm off."

Mrs Margieson (66) explained: "Jake had been lovely all that day. But he was very protective of me and the weather had been hot.

"I suppose these things could have had something to do with it. Robert has been very brave and is making a good recovery."

"I can't thank the Bury General and Fairfield staff enough."

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