A woman has been arrested over an attack which involved a bull terrier biting 11 children at a park near Newcastle.

Nine children were transferred to hospital after the attack, which reportedly lasted for 45 minutes on Wednesday evening. None of their injuries are thought to be serious.

The terrier was captured and later taken to a kennel. A woman in her late 30's has since been arrested on suspicion of having a dog dangerously out of control.

One of the victims is said to have suffered severe facial wounds, while another is awaiting emergency treatment.

Witnesses claimed that the dog was off its lead and that his muzzle had been removed, while another person described the incident as 'like a terrorist attack.'

They added that the father of one of the victims stopped the attack by jumping on the dog and pinning it down.

A police spokesmen told British media that emergency services attended the scene and 'were able to bring the animal under control.'