A LEGENDARY rock club has been resurrected at one of the region's leading music venues.

Newcastle's Mayfair Rock Club was one of the best and biggest in the country until it was closed down for the building, in Westgate Road, to be redeveloped.

And when the city's Telewest Arena recreated the Mayfair on Saturday night, more than 650 fans turned up - when only 250 were anticipated.

Now the Arena is planning to make the club a permanent resident of the building, running on as many Saturday nights as possible in the foyer.

This will be part of plans to increase the use of the Arena which, despite a hectic schedule of concerts, exhibitions and the city's ice hockey and basketball teams, is unused for about 200 days a year.

General manager Colin Revel said the rock club would not clash with sporting events as it would run after games had finished.

He said: "The Mayfair Rock Club was very successful, nationally known, and obviously the day it had to leave the Mayfair building was because of development.

"It will continue here for forever and a day. There is a hardcore of people who never go to any other club. Saturday was like a Mayfair reunion."

The next three Saturdays, tomorrow, May 5 and May 12 have already been booked, with doors open from 9pm to 2.30am.

Tickets on the night cost £3 before 11pm and £5 after that from the box office.