A NEWPORT girl was discharged from hospital today following surgery after she was attacked by a dog.

The Argus reported earlier how Courtney Nurden, 11, was left with puncture wounds and cuts to her face following the attack in Duffryn on June 18.

Courtney, also of Duffryn, had been in a friend’s garden when her mother Claire Marshall said she was bitten by a Rottweiler dog.

After being taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital to have the wounds cleaned and stitched up, Courtney was then readmitted on Wednesday after the wound became infected.

This led to two hours of surgery late Friday night to reopen the wound and clean it out and have fat cut from her cheeks to stop the infection.

Ms Marshall said the youngster, who was discharged from hospital yesterday morning, now has more than 40 stitches on the inside and outside of her mouth.

Ms Marshall said: "She is doing ok but she is obviously having nightmares and flashbacks. She’s such a pretty girl but she is going to be scarred for life now. She’s been so brave throughout it all though.

Ms Marshall made a call in today’s Argus for the dog to be destroyed but Gwent police yesterday confirmed no action will be taken as they said the children had entered a secure area where the dog was kept.

A Gwent police spokeswoman said: "We received a report at 4.55pm on June 18 that a young girl had been injured. On arriving we found the two children had entered a secure area where the dog was kept. All responsible steps had been taken by the owners to secure the dog and to make people aware of the dog’s presence."