ARMED police have begun carrying out stop-checks on North-East roads in the run-up to the Labour Party Conference.
Drivers have been stopped on the A167 at the Angel of the North, in Gateshead, where vehicles were checked by police with an explosives sniffer dog.
Hundreds of Labour Party members are expected to attend the three-day conference at The Sage music centre, in Gateshead, starting next Friday.
A police spokesman said: "This is part of the build-up to the policing of the Labour Party Conference.
"The officers are part of our well-planned co-ordinated operation to protect the people of the region and those attending the conference.
"While there is no specific intelligence to suggest that the conference or Tyneside will be targeted by terrorists, people are asked to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to the police."
Drivers on roads including the A1 Western Bypass, A69 and Felling Bypass have been stopped and checked as part of the measures.
The security crackdown will continue until the conference finishes on February 13.
* The Sage will be closed to the public for a week from Monday.
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