Girl, 7, burned in dress accident

A seven-year-old girl was badly burned when her dress caught fire at her Wearside home.

Police said the girl was playing with friends in her garden in Beachwood Crescent, Southwick, when the accident happened on Sunday evening.

She was taken to Newcastle General Hospital after her parents put the flames out. Her condition is described as critical but stable.

Police say they are attempting to establish the cause of the fire.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "The girl was playing in the garden with some neighbours' children and her dress just burst into flames.

"She has bad burns to the lower part of her body and is expected to be in hospital for a while.

"There is nothing to indicate what caused the fire at this time and there will be some inquiries."