POLICE have warned that the first real test of 24-hour drinking will be this weekend.

And they are taking no chances in Darlington by drafting in military police from Catterick, North Yorkshire, to ensure there is order in the town in the run up to Christmas.

Inspector Alan Davidson said: "Additional resources are being made available and it is not just extra uniformed officers on patrol.

"We are looking for other agencies to support us, for example military police, the licensing authority - together it will be a combined response."

Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland police all reported an extremely quiet 24 hours, despite the landmark advent of all-night drinking on the stroke of midnight on Wednesday.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "Who would want to be out drinking all night on a wet, windy Wednesday?"

Last night, licensing officials were out on patrol with police officers in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, where two thirds of the pubs and clubs had extended opening hours.

Head of legal services Martyn Richards said: "We are not against drink and people enjoying themselves, but we want to ensure it is within the law."

Very few places in the region have been given 24-hour licenses, most premises that have extensions, have just asked for one or two additional hours.