A toddler is fighting for her life and a man has been arrested after emergency services were called to a County Durham village.

Durham Constabulary said a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of assault with intent to cause serious harm and remains in police custody.

Police said they initially responded to reports of a ‘medical incident’ at Milton Grove in Shotton Colliery at teatime on Wednesday.

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A two-year-old girl was airlifted to hospital and is currently in a critical condition at the RVI in Newcastle.

The Northern Echo: Police at the scene in Milton GrovePolice at the scene in Milton Grove (Image: Milton Grove in Shotton Colliery)

One woman who lives nearby said: "People are very concerned for the little girl. I have not been able to sleep for thinking about her. It is awful.”  

Emergency services were called at around 3.30pm and it is understood a large number of people gathered outside the house.

One witness said: “I saw a man being brought out of the house and being arrested.

“They brought him out and a couple of rocks got chucked. They got him in the car and he was gone asap. There were loads of people there.

“There were loads of police there as well and they went door-to-door last night.”

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Durham Constabulary said a police vehicle was damaged while officers were at the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Barker said: “We appreciate that friends, family and neighbours are deeply concerned by this incident, but we ask that the community refrains from speculation over the circumstances or naming of those involved online.

“A police vehicle was deliberately damaged whilst in attendance at the scene, and I’d like to remind the public that obstructing our officers as they carry out their enquiries is not helpful.

“Please allow us the space to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident.”

A police presence has remained at the scene all day and at lunchtime forensic officers arrived to continue the investigation.

The Northern Echo: Forensic investigators on the scene in Shotton Colliery Forensic investigators on the scene in Shotton Colliery (Image: Forensic investigators at the scene)

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A spokeswoman for North East Ambulance Service confirmed medics had attended the incident.

She said: “We sent five resources to the address, including a clinical team leader, a specialist paramedic, an emergency ambulance and the air ambulance.

“For reasons of patient confidentiality it would not be appropriate for us to comment further."

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Great North Air Ambulance has also confirmed it sent a crew.

A spokeswoman said: “Yesterday our critical care team were activated at 3.48pm to reports of a medical incident at Shotton Colliery.

“They arrived on scene at 4.02pm and two doctors and a paramedic assessed and treated a patient.

“The patient was airlifted to hospital.”

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