TICKETS for Radio One's Big Weekend event in the North-East will be given away.

Thirty thousand free tickets are up for grabs for the two-day festival at Herrington Country Park, near Penshaw Monument, off the A183 Chester-le-Street to Sunderland road, over the weekend of May 7 and 8.

The full line-up and schedule will be finalised on the Radio One website this week, but the Foo Fighters, Gwen Stefani, Natalie Imbruglia, Jamiroquai, Basement Jaxx, Lemar, the Kaiser Chiefs, the Bravery, Kasabian and the Black Eyed Peas have already been confirmed.

Among the presenters introducing the acts will be Chris Moyles, Colin and Edith, JK and Joel, and Zane Lowe. DJ sets will be hosted by Pete Tong, Mauro Picotto and Judge Jules.

Two large marquees will be put up on the former Herrington Colliery site, housing 15,000 fans each day.

A main tent, holding 10,000, will stage most of the big acts, with a second stage marquee for 5,000 people to hear emerging bands and local groups.

Radio One staff will give away tickets in Sunderland Civic Centre car park from noon on Saturday and Sunday.

They will issue two per person, with those for May 7 given out on Saturday, and tickets for May 8 given away on Sunday.

Queuing will be restricted to the top deck of the car park, off Burdon Road and Park Lane, in Sunderland city centre.

Shuttle buses are being laid on to the concert to ease traffic congestion, and Sunderland nightclubs are hoping to stage after-show parties, with clubbers able to use the buses.