RUGBY players and fans of the sport are known to like the odd tipple - and now they have a bar big enough to keep them all happy.

The Newcastle Falcons Rugby Union Football Club has installed a bar measuring 36 metres - about 100 feet - in the West Stand of its stadium.

MMP Joinery and Shopfitting, the company that fitted the bar, believe it is the longest in the region. Michael O'Connell, managing director at MMP, said: "We are confident that this is the longest bar in the region, if not the country.

"It is certainly the longest we have ever fitted, shortly followed by a 30-metre long bar at Newcastle United's St James' Park. We would love to hear from construction or shop fitting companies who have fitted longer bars."

Fashioned from laminated formica, it also features two wheelchair access serving points.

It is one of seven bars fitted in the Falcon's West stand, which can hold up to 3,800 rugby fans.

David Stephenson, operations manager at Newcastle Falcons, said: "With our new bar, the concept of queuing for a drink will hopefully be eradicated."