ARMED response vehicle officers arrested a wanted woman at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.

Cleveland and Durham’s Road Policing Unit said in a post on Facebook that the woman had several outstanding allegations of theft related offences against her.

She was also subject to a warrant for her arrest and accused of breaching an ASBO.

Police said she was currently in custody helping with their enquiries, having been arrested on Sunday.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said it was not unusal for armed officers to be present at the hospital when, for instance, escorting prisoners who needed medical treatment.

However she said in this case there was no danger to the public and it is understood there was no firearm involved.

The spokeswoman said: "Sometimes in terms of our attendance at an incident it can just be whatever units we have available at the time."