DOZENS of worried Northern Rock customers have been queuing outside the doors of their branches across the region today.

Many people are withdrawing their money after the announcement that the Bank of England decided to offer the troubled bank emergency funding.

Financial experts have urged customers not to panic.

Paul Banfield, a director at Best Invest Financial Planning, said: "Don't panic. The Bank of England have funded them and there is no one better to fund a bank than the Bank of England.

"Most people dealing with Northern Rock will be applying to borrow money.# "If they have already been approved and got an offer it will be fine, although it will be very unsettling for people.

"If you are a saver I can understand the concern, but there is no immediate danger."

But Mr Banfield also admitted that if he had savings with Northern Rock he would probably be thinking about moving them.

Kevin Mountford, head of savings at moneysupermarket.com, said: "This is not a time for savers to panic and withdraw their cash from Northern Rock.

"The Bank of England has been willing to step in with emergency funding because Northern Rock has a good business model and is at no risk of insolvency."

Northern Rock's chief executive Adam Applegarth sought to reassure customers.

Speaking on Radio 4s Today programme he said: "The Bank of England facility ensures they are looked after.

"If I was a depositor, and I am - my funds are with Northern Rock - and given the fact that it is backed by the Bank of England, it is probably one of the safest places to be."

A Northern Rock spokesman said: "Savings customers deposits are safe.

"Our relationships with our customers are of paramount importance to us and there will be no changes to their accounts or the service we will provide.

"There will be no impact on our borrowers."

But Doreen Gardner, 76, queuing outside a branch in Newcastle this morning, said: "I am really anxious especially when you're old you think that your money's safe.

"I have drawn my savings out but I still have shares there, I don't know what to do, they will keep going down in price.

"I don't understand how this could happen."