Woman 'Mauled To Death By Daughter's Dogs'

A post-mortem examination will be carried out today on the body of a woman who is believed to have been mauled to death by dogs she had gone to feed.

Neighbours reported hearing screams and dogs barking as the woman went to feed the pets in the back garden of the home in Morden, South London, on Tuesday.

The great grandmother had gone to the property in Rutland Drive and was feeding the pet dogs belonging to her daughter when she was mauled, according to reports.

It is understood that the woman suffered multiple injuries in the dog attack. She also suffered a heart attack.

Police were called at around 6.25pm but the 71-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Five dogs including two Bordeaux bulldogs and a mongrel were taken away.

Police say none of the animals were banned breeds and no arrests have been made.

Neighbour Kevin Hamilton told Sky News he heard noises outside at about 5.15pm on Tuesday.

"I heard screaming and dogs barking. The screaming was not specific screaming - there were no words in it. It was very much like hysterical screaming - no 'help' or anything like that.

"I thought no more of it, and believed it to just be the kids playing."

A spokeswoman for Scotland Yard said of the victim: "She had sustained a number of injuries. An investigation is under way to establish a cause of death."

The post-mortem examination will be carried out at St George's Hospital in Tooting.

Two adjoining semi-detached houses were cordoned off by police.

Four dog breeds are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act - the Pit Bull Terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Braziliero.

There have been calls for more breeds to be put on the banned list and for the law to be toughened up after a number of attacks by dogs.