A COMBINATION of heavy snow and drinking led to an increase in calls to Darlington police on New Year's Eve.

Sergeant Graham Charman said officers received a huge number of reports of people throwing snowballs on Wednesday night.

Police also attended a large number of minor drink-related incidents throughout the town.

Sgt Charman said: "If it hadn't snowed we'd have had an awful lot less calls. So many people reported people throwing snowballs and there were a few broken windows."

Paramedics and police were called after two men were found unconscious outside the Route 66 club, in King Street, two minutes before midnight.

The 25-year-old and 28-year-old, who are both from the town, were taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital where they regained consciousness and spoke to officers.

About 40 people gathered in High Row as the clock struck 12 - far fewer than in previous years.

There were a number of minor road accidents caused by the snow.

Police went to the A66 roundabout at Great Burdon, near Darlington, after reports that a red Rover Metro car was stuck in a ditch shortly after 10pm. The car was no longer there when officers arrived.