A TEENAGE partygoer was recovering in hospital last night after apparently taking drugs at the Love Weekend - a city-wide music festival.

The 19-year-old man, who has not been named, travelled to Newcastle from the Manchester area with three friends on Saturday.

Thousands of music fans attended the festival despite the cancellation of the official event.

It is believed the teenager had been partying at the Serious Love Parade After Party, featuring top DJs Judge Jules and John Kelly, at Newcastle University's Student Union, when he collapsed early yesterday.

He was admitted to Newcastle General Hospital after being treated by a doctor at the first aid station at the university.

His condition was described last night as "much improved". He was earlier on the critical list.

His parents have travelled from Manchester to be at his bedside, and police have launched an investigation to establish where he obtained the Ecstasy.

Meanwhile, council leaders of the self-styled party city have signalled their determination to host next year's Love Parade - after this year's event was cancelled at the 11th hour.

Newcastle city councillors, who were criticised after Radio 1 pulled the plug on the dance extravaganza, said they would learn from it and be prepared next time.

The council failed to meet the deadline imposed by the BBC station to organise a park-and-ride scheme.

The authority said it hoped to attract the event again, as police praised the good behaviour of thousands of people who came to the city despite the cancellation.

A police spokesman said: "People were remarkably well behaved considering their increased numbers across the city."

The spokesman said an impromptu party attended by 1,000 people had been staged at Exhibition Park in Newcastle, and a number of other crowds had been reported.

She said: "We had no reason to believe there would be problems, and their behaviour bears that out."

A council spokesman said a committee would be set up to examine what had gone wrong to lead to the cancellation.