THE Queen’s favourite breed of dog, the corgi, has been put on an Italian government list of dogs banned because they are dangerous.

The clampdown, announced yesterday, comes after a series of attacks by dogs in recent weeks which have left several young children and adults badly injured and scarred for life. Girolamo Sirchia, Italy’s health minister, announced the emergency law which covers 92 different breeds of dogs and bans children and those with a criminal record from keeping them.

Corgis - of which the Queen has more than 100 - collies and St Bernard rescue dogs have all been labelled as "very dangerous" according to the new law.

He said: "Scientifically, it’s difficult to define which dogs are aggressive or not, so its better to group them all together."

Potential owners who are considered suitable to keep the dogs will have to make sure that they are muzzled and kept on a leash.

They will also have to take out insurance in case they are involved in any attacks. Anyone breaking the new law faces a three-month jail sentence and a fine of 150. Yesterday, Italian newspapers questioned how collies, corgis and St Bernards could be classed as dangerous, with a headline reading: "Man’s best friend Lassie - is a killer".

However extreme putting corgis on a list of dangerous dogs may seem, the Queen herself has been a victim of their temper. In 1991, she needed three stitches after she split up a fight between two of hers.