THE banks of the Tyne were awash with colour as thousands of excited people waited for the Queen to officially open the £22m Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

Hundreds had small Union flags and others wore red, white and blue Union flag hats.

Some people tied balloons to the crash-barriers in front of them.

Workers at the Baltic Quays and Music Centre developments, in Gateshead, downed tools to watch the start of the Queen's two-day visit.

In Baltic Square, about 600 people - including children, VIPs and competition winners - were given seats to watch the event.

Members of the public had arrived as early as 10am. They were kept amused by street entertainers as well as music from Felling Brass Band and Felling Male Voice Choir.

Police estimated that 30,000 people turned out, on both banks of the River Tyne, to see the Queen open the Millennium Bridge, which links Gateshead and Newcastle, during the second leg of her nationwide golden jubilee tour.

With the push of a button, she lowered the elliptical structure, which in its elevated position allows ships to pass underneath. Its movement has been likened to the blinking of an eye.

She then walked across the bridge followed by Gateshead schoolchildren. On the Newcastle side of the river she was greeted by cheering crowds.

The royal couple then visited the nearby Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, where the Queen gave a speech before attending a reception.

Later, the couple appeared to be amused when a streaker launched himself in front of the royal limousine as it approached St Mary's RC Cathedral, opposite Central Station, where the Queen was to unveil a statue of the late Cardinal Basil Hume.

Tony Flynn, the leader of Newcastle City Council, said members of the royal family appeared to have seen the funny side of the escapade.

He said: "When we heard a big cheer go up we thought it was for the Queen arriving.

"Then we saw the streaker. We certainly hadn't planned for that.

"The duke had a good laugh when he got out of the car. They were amused.

"I think they took it in good heart."

The streaker was last night identified as Brynn Richard Reed, of Stormont Street, North Shields, North Tyneside.

Police confirmed that the 27-year-old had been charged with outraging public decency and would appear this morning at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court.

Drama over, the Queen unveiled the bronze statue of Cardinal Hume.

It is the first time since the Reformation, more than 400 years ago, that a British monarch has performed such a ceremony for a Catholic bishop.

The 10ft statue and memorial garden is sited in a public park behind the cathedral, overlooking Newcastle's Central Station.

Created by sculptor Nigel Boonham, the statue of one of Newcastle's favourite sons stands on a plinth in the shape of Holy Island, in Northumberland.

Peggy Hannan of West Denton, Newcastle, said: "I had been planning to come and see the unveiling of Cardinal Hume before the Queen had announced her visit.

"Having the Queen perform the ceremony is an acknowledgement by her of the Catholic church and makes the occasion so much more special."

Alan Calvert was with a group of former comrades from the Royal Engineers and said the Queen was patron of the Royal Engineers Association.

He said: "I was one of the soldiers lining the route for the Queen when she opened the Tyne Tunnel back in the 1960s, so it is great to be here this time as well.