THREE people were stabbed as a wake in a pub ended in a brawl at the weekend.

Trouble broke out among 40 mourners at the wake in the Warriors Arms, in Front Street, Great Lumley, County Durham, at about 7.15pm on Friday.

Three people in the pub were stabbed and others were injured, including some with bites, when a fight broke out.

Four ambulances were called, and patients were taken to the University Hospital of North Durham for treatment.

Inspector Colin Nixon, of Durham Police, said: "We were called to the Warriors Arms at 7.13pm to deal with a fight on the premises.

"It was a large incident and we know that three people were stabbed and somebody was bitten.

"Three local men suffered superficial injuries, but they are not believed to be serious or life-threatening.

"Two men aged 26 and 27 are currently in custody in Durham.

"But nobody was seriously injured and it is being treated as a pub brawl that got out of control. It was calmed down pretty quickly once we got there."

A spokesman for the North-East Ambulance Service said: "Four ambulances were sent and they all took patients to hospital with minor injuries."

Detectives from Chester-le-Street are still investigating.

No one from the pub would comment on the incident.

Anyone with information has been asked to call 0845 60 60 365