XL Bully owners are to gather at a Kent beach this weekend to walk their dogs unmuzzled for the last time.

Organisers of social media group Paws4Play are inviting owners of the controversial breed to join them at a walk on Margate seafront from 1pm tomorrow (December 30).

Other breeds are also welcome but they must be friendly to the XL Bullies and all dogs must be on leads.

Paws4Play says participants will walk along the town’s promenade for “a last XL Bully unmuzzled meet up”.

The gathering will take place just a day before the UK government’s ban on the XL Bully comes into place under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

This comes after a concerning rise in attacks and fatalities caused by XL Bully dogs which join four other breeds which have also been banned- Pit Bull Terriers, the Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brasileiros.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows there have been 16 deaths this year where the underlying cause was a dog bite.

From Sunday, December 31 it will be against the law to sell, abandon or let stray, give away and breed the Xl Bully. The ban also means the dog cannot be in public without a lead and muzzle.

Owners who want to keep their dogs after the ban must apply for a certificate of exemption by Sunday, January 31.

The dogs must be permanently neutered, and be covered by third-party insurance. Owners must pay £92.40 for each dog they want to keep.

The owners, who must be over 16 years old, must also ensure that their dog is kept in a secure place so it cannot escape and is microchipped.

From February 1, it will also be illegal to own an XL Bully in England and Wales unless your dog has a valid Certificate of Exemption.

Full government guidance can be found here.

Dog owners have shared their anger at legislation with KentOnline this week.

Karen Griffin, from East Peckham, has an 18-month-old XL Bully called Storm and was “absolutely devastated” when she first learned of the ban.

She said: “I was upset then scared then angry. Now I know I’ve got to focus and deal with what I’ve got to do.”

Karen plans to join with other XL Bully owners and hire out Ted's Field, a secure dog field you can book in Five Oak Green, which would allow the dogs to run around together.