The grandmother of a five-year-old girl who was mauled to death by the family dog has been charged with her manslaughter, the Crown Prosecution Service said yesterday.

Ellie Lawrenson died from serious head and neck injuries at a house in St Helens, near Liverpool, on New Year's Day.

Her grandmother, Jacqueline Simpson, who suffered injuries to her arms as she tried to wrench the dog away, was also charged with possession of class A drug diamorphine.

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