A HOST of pop stars were forced to flee when fans went on the rampage at a free beach concert.

Stars at the gig, including the Cheeky Girls, former All Saints singer Mel Blatt and rapper Lisa Maffia, dived for cover as youths hurled bottles and beer cans.

One teenager was stabbed as gangs of youths battled at the Galaxy FM concert in South Shields.

Police, who made several arrests, dispersed the crowd and halted the event.

The 10,000 strong crowd had been well-behaved throughout Saturday afternoon as they enjoyed the summer weather.

Performers such as Blatt, 28, wooed the crowd with her debut solo single Do Me Wrong.

Fellow singers the Cheeky Girls - twins Monica and Gabriela Irimia - were also a hit with their new single, Cheeky Holiday.

But trouble flared later in the evening when some drunken fans began hurling bottles and cans at the stage, forcing the performers to walk off.

DJ's tried to appeal for calm but they too were forced to flee and the concert was abandoned.

Police scattered the mob and moved in to make arrests. The gangs then sprawled towards the city centre, where there were further disturbances and police made several more arrests.

A mother at the gig with her two children said: "These gangs had no thought for the people there. They were chucking beer bottles and cans. The performers on stage must have been terrified."

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "During the afternoon there were several arrests for drunkeness and related offences.

"During the course of a disturbance a youth was stabbed but his injuries were not life threatening."

"The crowd in front of the stage began to throw bottles and cans and a decision was made to abandon the event."

No one at Galaxy was available to comment.