POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an incident which resulted in three soccer stars being locked in cells for 20 hours.

Celtic stars Johan Mjallby, Joos Valgaeren and Bobby Petta were arrested during a Christmas night-out.

Club skipper Neil Lennon was also taken away in handcuffs after the fracas on Tyneside's trendy quayside.

Lennon, 32, was later released, but the other three were held in cells at a police station in Gateshead.

Then a request for an independent interpreter for Swedish international Mjallby led to a delay until detectives were able to question them.

They were finally released on police bail at 8.30pm on Wednesday, after 20 hours in custody.

Defender Mjallby, 33, Dutch midfielder Petta, 28, and Belgian international Valgaeren, left the police station with a club official in a people carrier, hiding their heads under coats.

A Northumbria police spokeswoman confirmed the trio had been released on police bail without charge to appear back at the station on March 24, next year.

The incident was said to have involved doormen at the Buffalo Joe's cowboy theme bar on Gateshead Quays late on Tuesday.

Daily Record photographer Paul Chappells was reported to have been taking pictures of the incident. It was later alleged that his camera had been stolen.

Detectives yesterday launched an appeal for witnesses to the incident.

A spokesman said: "We want to speak to anyone who may have seen an incident involving Celtic football players and a photographer near Buffalo Joe's on Gateshead Quays shortly before midnight."