Scotland's hospitals have treated more than 55,000 cases resulting from dog attacks in the last decade, it has been revealed.

Meanwhile, the number of such attacks each year has risen by almost 50% over the last 10 years.

The figures were revealed by talk radio station LBC, which used Freedom of Information laws to ask all health boards to reveal how many cases accident-and-emergency (A&E) staff have had to deal with.

Between 2006 and 2016 there were 55,093 cases, with 15,993 of these happening in the Greater Glasgow area, according to the data.

Over the period, A&E staff in Ayrshire and Arran dealt with 9,966 victims of dog attacks while in the Lanarkshire area there were 8,454.

In the Borders region only 154 such cases were recorded over the decade while in Orkney the total was 13.

In 2015-16 there were 6,061 cases where people needed treatment for dog bites or strikes, compared to an annual total of 4,053 10 years before.

Superintendent Davie Duncan, of Police Scotland, said: "We would encourage all owners to take steps to ensure their dogs are kept safely under control at all times.

"There is a range of legislation with the aim of preventing dog attacks.

"Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe and will deal with any report of irresponsible ownership or dangerous dog behaviour which puts safety at risk.

"We work in partnership with local authorities who have additional powers under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.

"If you have any concerns, please contact Police Scotland on 101, in an emergency dial 999."