Three hurt in 'horror' axe attack

Police have described an axe attack at an 18th birthday party in County Durham as like a "scene from a horror film".

Officers were called to a house in Sussex Road, Consett, after a disturbance at the house party spilled into a street fight on Friday night.

A man and two women were treated for axe wounds at the scene. A "bloodied" axe, with an 18in by 6in (45.7cm by 15.2cm) blade, was found in a garage.

An 18-year-old man was arrested and bailed on suspicion of wounding.

Police said the injured man suffered a deep cut to his shoulder and what is believed to be a fractured shoulder blade.

One woman had been struck on the side of her head and another had a wound to her hand.

A white Nissan Micra car parked near the Sussex Road house was also found to have been damaged by the axe.

Insp Andy McConnell, of Durham Police, said: "At this stage we are not certain what caused the trouble but the incident sounds like a scene from a horror film."