AROUND 200 people were forced to leave an illegal New Year’s rave inside part of the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle following a police raid in the early hours of the morning.

Police disrupted the party in the early hours of Sunday, January 1 to find around 200 people inside the old lift shaft of the bridge in Lombard Street, on the Quayside.

They attended after concerns were raised at about 1.50am and after forcing entry founds about 200 people at the New Year’s bash.

Officers are believed to have used heavy duty sawing equipment to access the Grade II listed structure.

Northumbria Police’s firearms support unit and superintendent Andy Huddleston described the incident as “a challenging job”.

Police say party-goers had also connected music and sound equipment to the electricity supply.

A police spokesperson said: “Police attended and forced entry to discover around 200 people inside. Music and sound equipment had illegally been connected to the electricity supply.

“The building was quickly evacuated and was secured by police to allow the electricity to be made safe.”

Police are now appealing for information to help them trace the organisers of the party.

They want to trace three men who are believed to have been seen taking equipment into the building on Friday and Saturday.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “Enquiries are on-going to identify the organisers. It’s believed three men in a white van were seen taking equipment into the tower during the evening on Friday and Saturday.

“Officers are keen to trace these man and would ask they, or anyone who knows who they may be, come forward.”

Earlier in the evening thousands of people had been in the Quayside area to watch fireworks to mark the new year.

Anyone with information should contact Northumbria Police on 101 quoting reference 245 010117 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.