POP sensation Take That’s concerts at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light have been hailed a success and fans have been praised for their behaviour.

The Premiership club’s ground staged its first pop events on Friday and Saturday – rock band Oasis is performing there on Wednesday – and thousands of fans flocked to hear their heroes perform their old hits and songs from their new album The Circus.

Chief Superintendent Neil Mackay, who is responsible for policing football matches at the stadium, said that a huge amount of planning had gone into the shows by the club, police, city council, fire brigade and ambulance service.

He said: “The crowd was in good spirits, it was a successful event enjoyed by all and we’re very pleased with the way it went.”

Sunderland Football Club’s concert project manager, Gary Hutchinson, said: “It was great to see the months of planning and hard work culminate in such a fantastic event.

“This event has shown that not only is there a demand for such large-scale events in the city, but also that we are more than equipped to host them.”

Ken Scott, chairman of the city’s safety advisory group, praised the way that fans conducted themselves.

“Those attending the concert were exceptionally well behaved, compliant of all requests from stewards and they came in the right spirit,”

he said.

“They were a credit to the city and the region, and we would welcome them back in the future.”

The group – Jason Orange, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Gary Barlow – were supported by singer-songwriter James Morrison.

Together with the Oasis gig on Wednesday, it is expected that at least 160,000 music fans will have attended the shows in the city, bringing £3.5m into the region’s economy.