POLICE had to deal with thousands of incidents of bad behaviour as louts made a drunken start to the New Year.

Officers made more than 100 arrests but police stressed that, despite an increase in public disorder compared to last year, it was not a record-breaking start to 2003.

Police in Cleveland appeared to have had the worst increase, with 536 incidents of public disorder compared to 441 the previous year. They made 65 arrests.

Cleveland Acting Inspector Jeff Mowbray said: "After midnight things became very busy, mainly public order offences. Our extra police resources were able to cope, although at times we were stretched."

County Durham Police dealt with about 200 incidents of drunken behaviour. Cells at Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland were all full yesterday morning.

Darlington police dealt with a glass attack, a serious assault outside the Route 66 pub and a criminal damage incidents.

"I was on duty until about 10pm and I have to say it was actually quieter than a normal weekend night at that point," said Sergeant Graham Charman of Darlington police.

Inspector Frank Rogan, of County Durham Police HQ, said the force was called out more than 200 times, although officers may have dealt with other cases.

In Newcastle, a parade watched by 5,000 and a celebration on the Quayside attended by 30,000 passed without serious incident. Elsewhere in the city, police made 32 arrests before 2.30am. In Sunderland city centre, police made 20 arrests.