THREE people were bitten by a rat at the North-East’s biggest outdoor music festival.

Organisers of Evolution, held on the banks of the River Tyne, in Newcastle, confirmed two festival goers and one security guard received bites from the rodent.

The incident, during Raleigh Randall's set on Sunday, was greeted by screaming among girls at the front of the audience.

The musician was so upset about the unscheduled appearance of the creature he started his track again.

A quick-thinking event supervisor came to the rescue, using his foot to catch the rat by the tail, before scooping it up into a cardboard box.

The rat was then removed from the site to the claps and cheers of the festival audience.

Paul Kennedy, Evolution Festival spokesman, said: "We can confirm that three people were bitten by a rat at yesterday's festival, two female festival goers and a member of the pit security team.

"All had small bites and were treated by the on site medical teams.

"They were sent to hospital to get antibiotics.

"No further medical action was required."

Tonight (Monday, May 27) singer Paloma Faith tops the bill following sets from Jake Bugg, Bastille and Alunageorge.