A bloodspattered woman who prompted a major police search after claiming she had carried out a serious assault could face charges for wasting police time - after it was established the blood was in fact her own.

A police operation was launched on Bank Holiday Monday after the woman flagged down a car and told the driver she had assaulted a man.

Officers supported by search and rescue volunteers including a police helicopter searched the area near the Jolly Drover pub outside Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham, where she was picked up.

But all they found was a shoe belong to the woman who reported the attack. A check of casualty wards of North-East hospitals also failed to turn up any potential victims.

Detective Sergeant Vic Deanes said last night: "Last week items of clothing were sent to our forensic laboratory in Wetherby for tests to be carried out.

"Staff at the laboratory have now confirmed to us that the blood on the woman's clothing was solely hers.

"There still remains the possibility another person might have been involved in whatever led to her stopping a car and then a taxi at the Jolly Drover's roundabout that night.

"However, we will be speaking over the next couple of days to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide on the next course of action."