POP Idol mania hit the capital last night - with a distinctly North-East flavour.

Darlington's Zoe Birkett and Geordie Aaron Bayley (right) joined the other stars of the television smash hit on stage at Wembley Arena.

It was the first night of a sell-out national tour which reaches the North-East next month.

More than 18,000 tickets were snapped up in just two-and-a-half hours for the concert, which also featured Pop Idol winner Will Young and runner-up Gareth Gates.