AN XL Bully owned by a Kendal woman has been ordered to be killed after she admitted she possessed a 'fighting dog.'

Bethany Mickle, 32, of Newbiggin, admitted possessing or having custody of the dog, named Nova, contrary to the Dangerous Dogs Act. 

Mickle pleaded guilty and heard her sentence at South Cumbria Magistrates in Barrow. The dog will be destroyed by or on behalf of Cumbria Police. 

Mickle also has to pay £700 in compensation and a £300 fine.

XL Bullies were added to the Dangerous Dogs Act on October 31 last year. They were banned two months later - all XL Bullies must now be registered and are required to be on a lead and muzzled when in public. 

It is illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL Bully dogs stray, and from June 30 any over a year old must be neutered.