A teenage girl has been found murdered in a North-East field.

The 14-year-old girl was discovered yesterday afternoon on the outskirts of Cramlington, Northumberland.

Although the victim has yet to be formally identified, trained family liaison officers are already consoling her family.

An 18-year-old youth was arrested in connection with the killing last night close to the scene. Police have been at the scene since the body was discovered around 9pm last night and were today continuing to examine the field behind Astor Court.

Any witnesses who were in the area after 3.30pm yesterday have been urged to come forward.

A large white tent was put up and police tape sealed off a large area of rough land about half a mile from the A19 to the east of the town.

Forensic experts wearing white suits were working this morning at the scene behind a new old peoples home.

Garage owner Tom Brechany, whose business stands just a few hundred yards from the scene, said he saw a police helicopter hovering above at around 9pm yesterday.

He said: ''It is very quiet around here since they built the old folks' home around three years ago.''

Local resident Anne Dinsley, whose terrace house on the quiet estate backs on to the field where the schoolgirl's body was found, said it was a popular place for young people to meet.

''I let my dog Tia out at around 8.10pm and she was barking. She went berserk as if somebody was close,'' she said.

''I just called her in, shut the door and locked it, and around 9pm the police helicopter arrived.''