A hospital has removed a staff unicycle from its children's ward after a mother complained that her six-month-old baby had to wait for treatment while his doctor learned to ride it up and down corridors.

South Tyneside hospital, in South Shields, has apologised to Paula Dadswell, 33, from Jarrow, over the behaviour of the doctor.

The South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust said: "On a children's ward, we strive to combine professionalism with an air of informality and fun aimed at putting children at ease. On this occasion we did not succeed in achieving this compromise."