The woman, who is said to be in her 70s, was flown to Worthing Hospital by police helicopter suffering severe leg injuries, after an Alsatian dog is said to have attacked her in a house at Nutbourne Common, near Pulborough, shortly after 2pm.

It is thought the woman's injuries are non-life threatening.

Police and ambulance crews attended the scene.

Police dog handlers put the dog down humanely at the address.

Nobody else was injured.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "A woman in her 70s was taken by police helicopter to Worthing Hospital this afternoon Friday 29 August, having been attacked by an Alsatian dog in a house at Nutbourne Common near Pulborough shortly after 2pm.

"She is understood to be suffering from serious but non-life threatening leg injuries. Nobody else was injured.

"The dog and the woman were inside the house at the time. Police and paramedics attended swiftly and the dog was contained in a separate room inside the house.

"There was no threat to anyone outside the address. The woman lives at the address, and the dog was the pet of the family there.

"Police dog handlers subsequently put the dog down humanely at the address, in consultation with a vet who also attended. Police firearms officers were not involved.

"Police are not planning to investigate further."

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