A 90-YEAR-OLD man has died five weeks after he was attacked by a dog as he tried to protect his wife.

Andrew Russell was bitten by the American bulldog when he tried to rescue his wife Dorothy, who had been knocked over by the animal.

The attack happened in West Calder, West Lothian, on September 20.

Mr Russell died at St John's Hospital in Livingston on Friday. It is understood he had been moved to the rehabilitation ward before his condition deteriorated.

His grandson, Ryan Irvine, 40, was quoted as saying: "I am 100 per cent confident that had the dog attack not happened, then he would have been at home right now. There's no doubt in my mind that his death was caused by that."

It is understood that a post-mortem examination is still to be carried out. Police said that a report would be sent to the procurator-fiscal.