WARNING: There is an image at the bottom of this article that some may find distressing. 

A VET has confirmed the deadly Alabama Rot has returned to the area after a dog died from the disease in Tyldesley. 
Chad Northcott, from Vetcare Ltd in Leigh, says the Tyldesley case has been confirmed as the serious skin eating disease and is warning dog owners to be vigilant. 
He said: “The examination confirmed the case in Tyldesley is in fact Alabama Rot.
“I would like to tell pet owners to keep walking their dogs but to be vigilant and consider keeping dogs on a lead and away from wooded, damp areas as they are the kind of areas this disease seems to be found.
“I think what needs to happen now is for people to test the area to find out what causes this disease and find a cure – but funding is needed for that.”
On April 8 Julie Rothwell took her six-year-old Manchester terrier Bradley to the vets after walking him on tracks near Squires Lane. 
What was originally thought to be a broken leg was in fact the deadly skin-eating disease that affects dogs. 
Bradley was put to sleep after the disease affected his kidneys and caused lesions on his leg and foot.
Julie, 54 of Elliot Street, Tyldesley, said: “Bradley never had anything wrong with him in his whole life and all of a sudden we took him and our other dog Lily for a walk and he got this awful disease two days later.
“They hadn’t been walked anywhere else as we had been moving so I know it was that day it happened.
“God forbid it was a child who got a disease but because it is a pet it is just being left.
“I had two dogs and one died and the other didn’t, my other dog Lily is deaf and is now lost without Bradley who acted like her ears. 
“To see my dog’s leg being eaten by this disease was awful, I hope that people out there do tests on the land and find a cure for this so that other dogs can be saved.” 
Karl Battersby, director for environment and economy at Wigan Council, said: “We are in communication with vets across the borough and nationally on issues such as this and will continue to monitor the situation closely. 
“Anyone with concerns should speak to their vet.”

Leigh Journal: Two days after the walk Bradley's leg looked like thisTwo days after the walk Bradley's leg looked like this