A dog behavioural specialist has issued a worrying warning amid the rise in popularity of a "dangerous" breed in the UK that potentially poses an even greater threat than the notorious XL bully breed.

Dog attacks rose in the first five months of the ban on the XL bully breed, figures obtained by The Independent revealed - as police chiefs warn the legislation will be no “overnight fix”.

The number of attacks by XL Bullies is expected to decrease over the next decade in correlation with a decline in ownership of the dogs. XL Bullies have been blamed for at least 17 fatal attacks ...

After an anonymous call, Kent Police seized this dog, owned by tatooist Zakh Green, and classified it as a banned XL bully. But Zakh Green from Cranbrook, Kent says the animal is a mastiff.