An MP has asked a police force for an explanation after an officer was sent to investigate a group of children making a den in a wood.

Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah said she is worried an apparent over-reaction by Northumbria Police made a group of girls enjoying the outdoors feel like criminals.

Ms Onwurah was responding to comments by a mother who described how a police officer told her daughter and her friends to tear down the den in Warkworth Woods, Great Park, Newcastle, and move on.

She told The Chronicle: "I just couldn't believe they would send a police officer for that. It is incredible.

"When I heard the kids were going to the park to build a den I was delighted."

Miss Onwurah said she was writing to Northumbria Police.

Today she tweeted: "So where should kids play in the holidays?"

Northumbria Police told the paper they were responding to a complaint about teenagers hanging around in the woodlands.

The force said: "Any reports of anti-social behaviour in the area are treated as a priority for the local police team as local residents have recently reported problems with trees being damaged in the woods and motorbikes being illegally driven.

"An officer attended and spoke to youths. It was found that no offence had been committed and they were advised that we had received a complaint and advice was given."