THE grieving mum of a four-year-old girl who was mauled to death by her family's dog is "beyond heartbroken", friends say.
Little Alice Stones was attacked in her back garden in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, shortly after 5pm on Tuesday.
Dozens of mourners gathered at a candlelit vigil to remember the youngster last night.
Among them was a family pal who said Alice's devastated mother Louise was being comforted by her own mum Karen Hallewell, 56.
They told The Mirror: "She is beyond heartbroken. Her world has fallen apart. Alice was everything to her."
From tongue scraping to saying no, here are 12 health trends to try in 2023
Emergency services were called to the Stones' home in Broadlands, Netherfield, on January 31.
Neighbours said they heard "desperate screams" as the horror unfolded.
One told The Sun: "I heard ‘she’s dead! She’s dead!'
"It sounded like Louise shouting. They were piercing screams.
"They'll haunt me forever. It was a nightmare."
Locals were evacuated before armed cops cornered and gunned down the killer dog, which the family reportedly only rescued six weeks ago.
It is understood to be a Pitbull-husky cross, or Pitsky, though this has not yet been confirmed.
The end-of-terrace house remained cordoned off by police tape on Wednesday, and flowers and soft toy tributes piled up on the pavement.
Thames Valley Police said no arrests have been made and that investigators are working to establish the breed of the dog.
Officers in white forensic suits worked through the day at the address, with a tent by the back garden and a uniformed officer and marked police van at the front of the property.
Spectacular New Year fireworks light up London sky as huge crowds celebrate across UK for first time in three years
Around of 100 people turned out to a vigil organised at Grand Union Vineyard Church across the road on Wednesday evening.
Prayers were said for the family as mourners holding candles gathered in the darkness in a green space at the rear of the place of worship.
There were moments of reflection as music was played over speakers, including Amazing Grace and Over The Rainbow.
'VERY HAPPY LITTLE GIRL'
Donna Fuller, a ward councillor for Woughton Community Council, said the area has a "tight-knit community, predominantly families".
She said the vigil was to "enable the community to come together and draw strength from each other".
She added: "It will send a strong message to the family that we are thinking of them."
She said there is "such a sense of shock" and it is an "awful situation".
Giving an update earlier on Wednesday, Superintendent Marc Tarbit said that the child's family are being supported by specially trained officers.
"An investigation is currently under way to fully understand the circumstances but we currently believe that this was a tragic, isolated incident and there is no threat to the wider community," he said.
"Accordingly, no arrests have been made at this time.
"I can confirm that the dog was a family pet and was put down by police on the scene yesterday evening."
Neighbour Rita Matthews, 36, said she would see the child while walking her own daughter to school and described the youngster as a "very happy little girl".
One of the tributes left to Alice among the flowers read: "Fly high with the angels little one.
"The whole community will miss your smile. Our thoughts are with the whole family, especially her mum."
Twelve people have been killed in vicious dog attacks in as many months - the highest rate in 40 years - sparking growing calls for tougher laws.
