Police officers have hit back at criticism of pictures of armed officers smiling and posing with shoppers at a Christmas market.

In response to a BBC article, which reported on critical comments left on Northumbria Police's Facebook page, officers have been sharing their own smiling images with the hashtag #smileforthebbc.

Since the force posted the pictures on its Facebook page on Friday, they have attracted over 2,500 comments, many of which have been critical.

The force said of the deployment: "Don't be alarmed if you do see our armed officers, they are there purely for reassurance and to make people feel safe.

But some people said the images made them uncomfortable and unsafe, with one saying it looked like the "Americanisation" of the British police.

One woman wrote: "Well I've got news for you, Northumbria Police; seeing heavily armed police officers at a Christmas market would NOT make me feel safe - quite the opposite."

However, some people did respond positively, with one man saying: "These officers are here for public protection."

He added: "It seems the atrocities in Paris and Nice are swiftly forgotten by some....Well done Northumbria Police. Stay safe."

As a gesture of solidarity with the Northumbria Police, officers from across the country, and as far as the US posted smiley pictures.

Even a police horse got in on the act.

Newcastle Police also urged people to keep on smiling on its Twitter account on Monday morning.