A headteacher has been suspended from her job at a village school over claims she smacked pupils.

Elizabeth Carey, 51, was removed from her job at the tenpupil Millfield First School, in Northumberland, after parents complained to police.

Police and education chiefs launched an investigation after children as young as five said she had hit them, and another member of staff allegedly witnessed inappropriate behaviour by Ms Carey.

Ms Carey, who lives in Ashington, Northumberland, some 50 miles away from the school, has been in the post for six years.

Chairman of Millfield governors, Councillor Derek Smilbert, said: "The relevant authorities have been instructed by me, as chairman of governors, to carry out an investigation, but at this stage, to be fair, I can't say any more."

A spokesman for Northumberland County Council said: "We can confirm that the headteacher of Millfield First School has been suspended.