WORLD cup fever gripped the North-East yesterday with football fans packing into pubs across the region for the start of the tournament.

Thousands of supporters took time off work and extended lunch breaks to see African outsiders Senegal beat firm favourites and world champions France by a single goal.

The match kick-started a bank holiday atmosphere, with many people geared up for a double celebration of jubilee and football festivities over the weekend.

Pubs that applied for special licences are being allowed to change their opening hours so they can screen World Cup matches and hold jubilee parties.

Huge crowds are expected to turn out to bars and clubs to support the country for the England versus Sweden match tomorrow.

The atmosphere in some of the pubs that were showing the France-Senegal match was described as "amazing".

More than 150 people turned up to Gillens sports bar, in Hartlepool, to watch the action unfold yesterday.

Students from Hartlepool college took time away from their studies to see the game and many of the regulars had booked time off work especially to see the match.

A spokeswoman for the bar said: "We had lots more people in than we would usually have on a Friday. There was about 150 in total.

"It was really busy, but there was a brilliant atmosphere. Some people came in for a long lunch break, others had booked the day off work, and we had a lot of people in from the college.

"We are showing all the World Cup games and we are expecting lots more supporters in on Sunday.

"Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves."

The Lascelles Park, in Darlington, has gone celebration crazy. Staff have decked out the bar with jubilee and football memorabilia.

Barmaid Kelly Byrne said: "The pub is decorated with St George flags and we have put the Irish flags up now.

"We have also got lots of jubilee stuff. There is a really great atmosphere."

Police forces in the region had no reports of violence or trouble yesterday despite the extra number of drinkers in the pubs.