THE OASIS concert at Sunderland's Stadium of Light was hailed a success last night, despite long queues and transport headaches.

Police said only 12 arrests were made from the packed crowd of more than 48,000 at the single North-East date on the six city summer roadshow, the Manchester Britpop band's biggest stadium tour in their 18-year history.

Northumbria Police said: "For the most part it was very good natured, with the only arrests for drunkenness, assault, criminal damage and licensing offences.

"Sunderland city centre was very busy immediately afterwards, however, no disorder incidents have been reported and the event passed off successfully and safely."

The Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, backed by Andy Bell and guitarist Gem Archer, from County Durham, were in fine form, from the opening number, Rock 'n' Roll Star.

Despite the gloomy weather the band lifted spirits playing a mix of their notable numbers which made them the biggest name on the UK music scene in the mid-1990s, to new sounds from the latest album offering, Dig Out Your Soul.

As with last weekend's Take That Circus Live tour concerts, at the stadium, there was congestion at surrounding Metro stations in the aftermath of the show, despite operator Nexus increasing service frequency until 1am.

The three concerts have brought more than 154,000 music fans to Sunderland in the space of five days, providing a welcome boost to the local economy and putting the Stadium of Light at the forefront of venues in the North for such major open air concerts.

Oasis move on to play Cardiff's Millennium Stadium tomorrow as the clear up operation began in earnest at the Stadium of Light.