THIS is the first picture of Denny Dolan, the one month old baby who was reportedly attacked by a fox in his Downham home, ripping off one of his fingers.

His mother Hayley Cawley, of Dagonet Road, said she found the fox with her new-born son's hand in its mouth after she went to investigate a noise coming from the bedroom.

The fox apparently dragged the baby out of his cot, causing him to fall onto the floor, where it continued attacking him.

Denny’s aunt Lorraine Murphy, of nearby Shroffold Road, says the family are devastated by what happened.

She said: “Hayley had just gone upstairs when she heard a bang and came running down and the fox was dragging the baby towards the back door.

“She kicked the fox a few times before it would release him.

“His hand was badly damaged and he had four cuts to his face, one of which had to be stitched.

“He was in the operating theatre for about four hours.

“When the surgeons finished they said there was a 70 percent chance he would be able to use his hand again.

“It was so traumatic.

“His family are devastated. I spoke to my brother Paul at the hospital, but he couldn't even talk.

"Denny's lovely.

“He was a perfect baby.

Hayley and my brother were so happy with them.

“Hayley's devastated. She's just a mum who loves her kids and that's all I can say."

Denny is now said to be making a good recovery at Evelina Children’s Hospital, next door to St Thomas’s Hospital in Westminster.

Khadine Peters, 36, who lives next door, said: "I wasn't there at the time, I was walking home down the street when I saw the ambulance outside the house.

"I spoke to the mum and she told me a fox had attacked her baby.

“It was really bad, I'm so scared now - I definitely won't leave my back door open again.

"Something needs to be done about all these foxes roaming freely around all these homes.

"I always see foxes in the street or in my garden.

"They're disgusting, they're not cute pets, they're vermin. The council should get rid of them."

A Met Police spokesman said: "We were called at 4.38pm on Wednesday (February 6) by staff at St Thomas's Hospital to reports a baby boy who had been admitted to hospital after being attacked by a fox.

"Police attended to find a four-week-old baby with a hand injury.

"The baby was admitted to hospital after the attack at its home address.

"Our inquiries are continuing."