FIVE children were arrested and a sixth was detained in hospital after the car they were travelling in crashed while being pursued by a police car.

A 13-year-old girl was cut free from the wreckage and taken to Newcastle General Hospital suffering from fractures after the car lost control at a roundabout and hit a road sign.

A police patrol had spotted the overloaded Ford Escort on Newcastle's Central Motorway shortly after 8pm on Sunday and followed the vehicle with its blue light flashing.

But after only 100 yards, the 15-year-old driver of the Escort lost control at Cowgate roundabout and crash-ed.

Four boys and one girl who were in the car were arrested by police.

They were released on bail pending further inquiries