THE official opening of the region's flagship music centre has been called off because of funding problems, it emerged yesterday.

High-wire artist Philippe Petit was due to walk across the River Tyne to mark the launch of the Sage Gateshead, in June.

But centre bosses last night announced the high-profile event has been postponed because of "funding options".

Staff are working to try and reschedule the celebrations, but there is a chance that the stunt may not go ahead.

The wire walk, between Newcastle Quayside and the £70m complex on the south side of the river, was to have been accompanied by a performance from Tyneside-born superstar Sting, with orchestra Northern Sinfonia at the ceremony.

Composer David Lang had been commissioned to write an arrangement of the North-East folk tune Waters of Tyne.

Mr Petit, who once walked between the twin towers of the former World Trade Centre in New York, has spent more than three years planning the event with the Sage and bosses at Gateshead Council.

A spokeswoman for the Sage said: "Much of the technical and organisational planning required by the high-wire performance is now in place.

"But after examining different funding options for the performance with many partners, The Sage Gateshead and Gateshead Council have very reluctantly concluded it is not possible for them to realise the performance as planned in June."

The building, designed by Sir Norman Foster, opened last month to critical and commercial acclaim, with more than 15,000 music lovers flocking to its opening weekend.

It is expected to have an annual turnover of £12m, employing 800 people and hosting about 420 performances each year for about 600,000 visitors.

The summer performance was due to have been one of its first major showcase events.