Girl, 5, carries toddler half a mile in -35C with no shoes on after Alaska blackout

Alone and frightened by an electricity blackout, a shoeless five-year-old child carried her younger sibling half a mile to a neighbour's house in -35C (-31F).

Alaska state troopers were called after welfare concerns were raised for the two children in Venetie, a village in the northwestern American state.

The five-year-old and 18-month-old arrived at the neighbour's home suffering from injuries relating to the cold weather. They had been dressed only in socks and light clothing.

Julie Peter, 37, has been arrested on suspicion of endangering the welfare of a child.

In a statement, the State of Alaska department of public safety said: "Julie Peter, 37 years old of Venetie, was arrested on one count of endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree as a result of the investigation which revealed she deserted a five-year-old and 18-month-old in her home with no adult supervision."

It continued: "The five-year-old became scared when the power went out and carried the 18-month-old approximately [half a] mile while dressed in socks and light clothing to the neighbour's house.

Venetie is a small village with a population of around of 175 people. It is approximately 155 miles north of Fairbanks.