RHYL is a hot-spot for XL Bully ownership in North Wales according to a new report.

UK-wide data shows that in North Wales, Rhyl has logged the most successful applications for XL Bully ownership exemptions with 64 permissions being granted for the banned breed.

That places it 179th across the UK's 2,424 postcodes for XL Bully ownership, closely followed by Deeside in Flintshire with 58 applications (217th) and Colwyn Bay with 52 (285th).

In February this year, owning the XL Bully breed of dog became a criminal offence in England and Wales, unless you have an exemption certificate.

Anyone who owns one of the dogs needs to have had the animal neutered and microchipped. They must also be kept muzzled and on a lead in public, among other restrictions.

The ban was introduced by the Government after a spate of dog attacks involving the breed. In some cases, the victims died as a result of the attacks.

The ban was enforced in an attempt to prevent further incidents involving XL Bullies.

But, despite their 'bad reputation', many owners still see the good in the banned breed and still keep them as pets.

The figures come from The Spectator, which submitted a freedom of information request to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, to find out where the 50,000 registered XL Bully dogs in the UK live. 

While Rhyl is leading the way in XL Bully ownership in the region, neighbouring Prestatyn has only seen 28 applications, placing it 1,409th on the UK list. 

The data shows that the highest numbers in the country for XL Bully ownership is in Croydon, where there are 219 XL Bullies in the CR0 postcode region.

The second highest figure is the S5 postcode area just north of Sheffield, where there are 189 of these dogs, followed closely by an area of Warrington with 182 Bullies.