A police dog injured during the riots in Southport has been retired.

The animal, named Zoe, needed stitches after she suffered a cut to her leg during disorder involving hundreds of people on 30 July.

Mersey Police Dogs said Zoe was now “fit and well” but added it would “never ask our dogs to do something they no longer want to do”.

The violent unrest in Southport came the day after three girls were killed in a knife attack in the town. More than 50 police officers injured during the disorder.

Mersey Police Dogs posted on its X account: “We are sad to announce that following the violent disorder in Southport, PD (Police Dog) Zoe is to retire from service.

“Zoe is fit and well but we will never ask our dogs to do something they no longer want to do.

“Thank you for your bravery and service, we wish you all the happiness in retirement.”

Following the disorder, Merseyside Police said a dog named Ike was “recovering after sustaining a cut mouth and swelling to his front leg” and another, named Quga, had “suffered burns to her back leg”.

A fourth police dog, named Repo, was spared injury after its handler kicked petrol away.

Mersey Police Dogs said it had “no words for how our officers and dogs were targeted” during the riots, adding “our police dogs demonstrated extreme bravery and did all they could to assist colleagues under a sustained and violent attack”.

Merseyside Police said on 3 September Quga had “finally been reunited with her handler after a slow recovery” and will “hopefully be back fighting crime and hunting down criminals soon”.