A three-year-old boy has suffered severe head injuries in an accident where his mother's car was speared by metal spikes on a tractor.

The accident happened on a rural road near Lowick, Northumberland.

The tractor is thought to have pulled out at a junction of a minor road when the two foot long spikes pierced the side of the car, injuring the youngster as he sat in the back seat.

The boy, who has not been named, is undergoing emergency surgery in hospital in Newcastle.

Side claws

Northumbria Police said the 51-year-old tractor driver had apparently pulled out of the junction and struck the Audi being driven by the boy's 31-year-old mother.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "The tractor was travelling north when it pulled out in front of the Audi and the two-feet long protruding side claws on the tractor pierced the bodywork of the car.

"A three-year-old child travelling in the back seat of the car is currently detained in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary with serious head injuries."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident which happened at 1000 BST on Wednesday.