A fast-food chain has launched an investigation after a girl was allegedly asked to leave a restaurant because her facial injuries were disturbing other customers.

Victoria Welcher (3) was badly injured during an attack by a pit bull dog in April which left her with facial scars and an eye patch.

KFC has said it has launched an investigation after a restaurant employee in Jackson, Mississippi, asked her to leave.

The company said it was also giving US$30,000 (€22,132) towards her medical bills.

The allegation was made on 'Victoria's Victories' - a Facebook page set up to chart the little girl's recovery after the attack.

A post on the page said "Last week at KFC in Jackson MS this precious face was asked to leave because her face scared the other diners".

The allegations were first made on this Facebook page

KFC spokesman Rick Maynard said "As soon as we were notified of this report on Friday, we immediately began an investigation, as this kind of hurtful and disrespectful action would not be tolerated by KFC".

"Regardless of the outcome of our investigation, we have apologised to Victoria's family and are committed to assisting them. The company is making a $30,000 donation to assist with her medical bills" he added.

Victoria's grandmother Kelly Mullins said they were returning from a doctor's appointment when they stopped at the KFC.

She told WAPT-TV "They just told us, they said, 'we have to ask you to leave because her face is disrupting our customers'. She won't even look in the mirror anymore. When we go to a store, she doesn't even want to get out of the car".

Victoria was attacked by pitbulls at her grandfather's home.

She suffered a broken nose, jaw, cheekbones and right eye socket, lost her right eye and the right side of her face is paralysed, according to her Facebook page.