THE neighbour of a two-year-old girl savaged by a family dog has described the scene as “something out of a horror movie”.

Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at around 1.30pm on Monday (March 22) to reports a child had been attacked by a dog.

The girl, believed to be Taylor Leadbeater, was taken by ambulance from a house in Churchbury Road, Eltham, to St Thomas' Hospital with very serious facial injuries.

Neighbours have named the victim’s parents as Charlene Leadbeater and Gareth Sim.

A family friend, who asked not to be named, said: “A lot of stuff has been written by the press which isn’t true. It was a freak accident.

“There was no dog fight. Her jaw wasn’t ripped off and Gareth was in the room playing with her at the time.”

Police believe the dog was a male French bullmastiff and was a family pet. Two other dogs at the property have been taken away.

The neighbour said: “Gareth just turned his back for a minute. He heard a thud and turned back round. The dog had pinned the baby on the floor and there was blood everywhere.

“He picked her up and put her on the sofa. He tried to ring the ambulance but was in shock and couldn’t do it so he came round here.

“It was terrible. She looked like something out of a horror movie.

“She wasn’t crying but she kept pushing her face back together and saying the doggy was bad.”

The 31-year-old added: “We could hear the dogs fighting through the walls so Gareth went round there to stop it but the mastiff went for him. So he took it in the garden and stabbed it.”

A hospital spokesman confirmed the toddler had an operation on Wednesday (March 24) and was in a stable condition.

The neighbour said: “Yesterday (March 25) they took the breathing tube out and moved her on to a ward. She’s been up today (March 26) laughing and eating, which is great.

“She’s hopefully having her stitches out on Saturday."

He added: “Charlene and Gareth have a room at the hospital and are allowed to sleep there. They have been with her every day. Taylor is their main concern.

“I know those children are not neglected. Those kids are Charlene’s life. They are the best parents.”

The next-door neighbour claimed the dog had previously attacked Miss Leadbeater’s younger brother, Gary, two months ago.

He said: “Charlene took the dog to the vet and they said he wasn’t a dangerous dog. She specifically asked if he was alright because she has two little kids.”

It is thought the female French bullmastiff, which was in season at the time, may have caused the male dog to be more aggressive.

No arrests have been made and the dog is not believed to be a banned breed.

Greenwich CID are investigating the incident.