A sharp rise in the number of dog bite victims admitted to hospital, especially children, has caused concern at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Latest NHS figures released today show dog bites and strikes accounted for 7,227 hospital admissions from March 2014 to February this year, an increase of 6.5 per cent.

The most commonly affected age group was children aged under nine, with 1,159 admitted to hospital.

Over the past 10 years the number of people taken to hospital after dog attacks has soared by 76 per cent.

At least 21 people, including 13 children, have died in England and Wales in the past 10 years from dog attacks.

Sharon Sealey, Battersea’s community engagement manager, said: “It’s very concerning that so many children are still getting bitten by dogs.

“Battersea believes that this alarming figure could be greatly reduced through better awareness of the body language and habits of dogs and that’s one of the reasons why we go into schools and communities to offer advice to help minimise the risk of injury.

“A lot of people and especially young children don’t really know how to behave around dogs or how to read a dog’s body language.

“This is why a child should never be left alone with a dog. We know the consequences of this can be serious and sometimes even fatal.”

Battersea’s community engagement team carries out workshops to educate children on how to behave appropriately around animals so they can stay safe in their company.

Last year the charity gave advice to 13,400 children and young people in London.

Battersea has welcomed government legislation that means irresponsible owners can now be prosecuted for dog attacks within the home as well as outside.

This will be where many children might be affected if they are visiting friends’ homes and meeting dogs for the first time.