FANS heading to Sunday’s (October 21) Wear-Tyne derby are being urged to use public transport or club coaches.

Newcastle United are running coaches from St James' Park direct to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

Seats cost £5 and can be booked at the box office. Nexus is running two direct Metro trains from Newcastle Central Station to St Peter's in Sunderland at 12.16 and 12.23.

One special Northern Rail service will run from Central Station at 11.50am.

Fans will not be allowed to use Central Station’s main entrance.

Instead, they will have to use the entrance near the long stay car park and Centurion bar.

Police will operate barrier queuing to get fans onto trains safely.

There are three Metro trains returning from St Peter's to Central Station at 16.44, 16.53 and 17.08. One special Northern Rail return service will leave at about 17.00.

Officers will be at St Peter's Metro station to ensure people board the Metros and trains safely.

They will split waiting fans into groups and stagger numbers to prevent trains being overcrowded.

Operations Commander, Chief Superintendent Steve Neill, said: "Fans travelling to the derby game on Sunday need to have planned their transport to and from the game in advance.

"The Metro and train services on the day will be extremely busy and I'd urge people planning on using them to give themselves plenty of time for their journeys and to be patient with other travelling supporters.

"We're working with British Transport Police, Northern Rail and Metro staff to ensure the safety of Metro and rail passengers and will have officers at Central Station and St Peter's Metro station throughout the day.”