PEOPLE attending one of the biggest free festivals to be held in the North-East have been warned not to bring drink or drugs.

Everyone will be searched before they are allowed into Herrington Country Park, Sunderland, for the Radio 1 Big Weekend tomorrow and Sunday. Alcohol will be confiscated and police will arrest anyone in possession of illegal substances.

Cameras and recording equipment will not be allowed on site although mobile phones that take pictures and video clips are allowed.

More than 15,000 music fans have secured free tickets, although some have been changing hands on Internet auction site eBay for up to £200 for a pair.

Organisers have put a fence up to stop people without passes being able to see top acts such as The Foo Fighters, Gwen Stefani and Black Eyed Peas.

Superintendent Mick Hartnack, of Northumbria Police, said: "The event will take place within a secure fenced area and all performances will be within huge marquees.

"There will be no opportunity to see, or clearly hear, the performances in the vicinity and so, for safety reasons, we need to discourage crowds without tickets from gathering at the site. If you don't have a ticket, please do not travel to Herrington Country Park this weekend."

There is ample car parking at the site but delays before and after the festival are expected so people are being advised to allow plenty of time for their journeys.

City of Sunderland Council has teamed up with Nexus to provide a free shuttle bus service to transport people away from the site to Park Lane Interchange, in Sunderland city centre, and to Washington Galleries Bus Station each evening.

Ged Fitzgerald, the council's chief executive, said: "We are delighted that we have been chosen to host such a fantastic event and are doing everything we can with our partners to make sure things run smoothly for the thousands of music fans flocking into Sunderland."

For ticket holders, the gates will open at 1pm tomorrow and 2pm on Sunday.

Jason Carter, Radio 1's executive producer of live events added: "Radio 1 will be broadcasting live so anyone without a ticket will still be able to enjoy the concerts, as well as all the gossip backstage, on air throughout the weekend."