Police have launched an investigation into a complaint they "manhandled" a 12-year-old girl they say was obstructing an arrest.

Eight officers from Sussex Police went to arrest Michele Yeats over allegations of harassment in a dispute with a neighbour when she collapsed on her kitchen floor.

As her daughter moved to steady her, she claims she was yanked away so hard that she has bruising on her arm.

Her 34-year-old mother said Charlotte had been so traumatised by her treatment and by what had happened to her mother that she was going to be off school for the rest of the week.

Charlotte said she was now scared of the police and would not want to call them if anything bad happened to her.

She said: "I was cuddling my mum and crying because they were going to take her away and I was really scared.

"A police officer grabbed my arm with both hands and pulled me. It felt like someone pinching me and really hurt. I am really scared of the police now.

"I rung my dad to come and get me when they had gone and I was screaming and crying. He couldn't understand what I was saying."

The family has lodged an official complaint.

Mrs Yeats, who is on medication for stress and depression, said: "Charlotte's dad said she was completely hysterical when she phoned him.

"All she wanted was her mum and they manhandled her off me. We do everything together and are really close. She has been really traumatised by the experience."

Mrs Yeats said that when her mother, Charlotte's grandmother, asked Sussex Police why so many officers had been sent to carry out the arrest, she was told it was in case her daughter tried to resist.

Mrs Yeats said: "I am 5ft 1in, weigh eight and a half stone and don't have a criminal record. I am not well and have done nothing wrong and cannot believe how me and my daughter were treated.

"It was humiliating and frightening."

She claims Charlotte was left behind at the house after the arrest and Mrs Yeats said she was not able to get any information on her welfare or any medical assistance while she was kept at the police station until the evening.

Mrs Yeats said: "I was in cells all day apart from a 20-minute interview, was sick three times, was given no food and could not get any information on what was happening to my daughter.

"At the end of the day, I was bailed and told I was unlikely to have charges brought against me."

A police spokeswoman said she could not comment because it was the subject of an official complaint.

She said: "The complaint is being dealt with as a matter of urgency.

"There have been ongoing allegations of harassment between Mrs Yeats and a neighbour. We attended yesterday to arrest Mrs Yeats, when officers were obstructed by her daughter."