GALE force winds have wrecked Newcastle's New Year's Eve party fireworks display.

The party - which was to have featured illuminated buildings, fireworks, dancers, and a DJ - was cancelled after warning from meterological experts.

Driving rain cleared the city's usually bustling Northumberland Street of sales shoppers as the wind turned over sales boards and blew litter.

And hundreds of dancers who had gathered at the city's civic centre building to prepare for the celebration were sent home.

A team of pyrotechnics experts dismantled the frame on which thousands of fireworks were primed to light up the night sky at midnight.

Creative director of the Newcastle Gateshead Inititative Stella Hall said it would have been too dangerous to go ahead with the celebration.

She said: "We have been keeping in touch with the met office and have been warned not to go ahead.

"By 2.30pm things were looking dicey but we were keeping our fingers crossed.

"But then the crowd barriers started falling down and it became obvious it would be unsafe to have anyone on stage and to have an audience watching them.

"Once the wind goes above 30mph putting on a show like this can be difficult, and the Met Office predicted the wind would be at between 35 and 40 mph by 6pm and would continue to rise after that.

"It would not be safe to set off fireworks in winds like that.

"My heart goes out to all the dancers who have turned up, especially the little ones. There was due to be 70 of them dancing the 'glow dance' as part of Newcastle's Winter Glow festival - everything from tango to tap.

"We'd hoped to get the whole crowd dancing along but instead have had to dismantle the stage and send everyone home - including 13 lovely little tots who were so looking forward to it.

"I only hope everyone enjoys themselves in the pubs and clubs and the weather doesn't get too bad."