8 February 2013 Last updated at 11:50 ET

Escaped Manchester police dog attacks four in Derbyshire

A police dog has injured four people, including a 13-year-old girl, after escaping from a handler's home in Derbyshire.

Police said the girl needed hospital treatment after being bitten on her arm and leg by the German Shepherd-type dog in Glossop on Thursday.

The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) dog escaped its kennel whilst off duty.

Two men who fought the dog off her were injured. Another man had been bitten earlier that evening, police said.

Derbyshire Police said the animal belonged to a dog handler with GMP and had escaped from its kennel at the officer's home in the town.

The dog was to remain in "secure accommodation" while an investigation was carried out, a GMP spokesman said.

Shirt ripped

Officers were first alerted at 19:00 GMT when a man reported being bitten on Pennine Road. Thirty minutes later the teenager was attacked on Charlestown Road.

A 48-year-old man who tried to rescue her sustained some scratches and had his shirt ripped, and an 18-year-old man was bitten on his arm.

A third man who assisted escaped without injury. The girl's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, police said.

The dog ran off towards Freetown and was captured by its handler at about 21:50 GMT on King Street.

Derbyshire Constabulary said it would be fully investigating the circumstances and would be liaising with Greater Manchester Police.