ARMED police officers shot dead a rottweiler dog in Kent after the animal savaged its owners, a man and a woman.

Police were first called to the scene in Willington Green, Maidstone at around 10.45pm on Friday by the ambulance service.

They found the dog loose on the public landing of a block of flats.

A police spokesman said the dog presented a serious and immediate risk to the public and, following liaison with the RSPCA and local vets, it was decided there was no other option than for police to destroy the animal at the location.

At approximately 1.30am, Saturday, police shot the dog three times. The dog's owners, a 34-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman, were both treated at hospital for their injuries.

The man was arrested for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and has since been bailed pending further inquiries.

Chief Sup. John Molloy said: "The decision to destroy this animal was not one we took lightly. Our number one priority is the safety of the public. This dog had already seriously injured two people and was dangerously out of control so we had to take this action to prevent anyone else being hurt.

"This incident also highlights how important it is for dog owners to have the right training and understanding to be able to look after and control their pets."

Calls for rottweilers to be banned in Britain came after the death of a one-year-old boy in West Yorkshire at the end of December.

The Kennel Club said the law should place more responsibility on owners of aggressive dogs rather than the breed.