Toddler play park incident investigated

Police are appealing for witnesses to an incident in which a toddler was picked up and carried off by a young girl.

The three-year-old was enjoying the sunshine in a play park on Thistleflat Road in the Barrats estate in Crook, County Durham, at 6pm on Sunday.

At some point while the child's mother was distracted, a girl aged around ten years picked up the toddler and carried her through the gates of the park.

When the mother noticed what was happening she ran over and shouted to the older girl to put her daughter down.

She did so and then ran over and jumped into a silver car parked nearby.

The car then left the area. The driver is believed to have been female.

The ten-year-old is described as being four feet tall, slim and with long blonde hair.

She was wearing a sleeveless white dress with a pattern of coloured flower buds.

Det Con Dave Rooney said the girl's actions may have been entirely innocent, but the mother of the three-year-old had naturally been upset by what had happened.

He said: "This was a very unusual incident, which fortunately caused no harm at all to the younger girl.

"If there were other people in the area who saw anything, or may have a description of the car and its occupants we would urge them to contact us.

"We would also like to hear from whoever was in the car, as their account would be crucial to our inquiries."

Anyone with information should contact CID at Crook on the non-emergency number 0345 6060 365.