A TRANSPORT operator has hailed its free travel offer a success after thousands of people took advantage.

Nexus said that "thousands and thousands" of passengers from across Tyne and Wear used the Metro on Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday as they travelled to celebrate New Year.

It claims full advantage was taken of free Metro trains after 10.30pm thanks to sponsorship by energy supplier npower, with many people visiting Newcastle Quayside.

Nexus staff also reported packed trains throughout the rest of Tyneside, and on Wearside, where party-goers had the Metro at their disposal for the first time.

After a lull in passenger numbers at about midnight, services were busy again as they transported people home up to 2am.

Mike Parker, director general of Nexus, said: "There's no doubt that the Metro helped to make New Year's Eve a fantastic night for the people of Tyne and Wear.

"It meant people could get to where they were going quickly and easily, and get home again afterwards without the usual problem of trying to get a taxi.

"I'm delighted that our collaboration with npower allowed us to make such a valuable contribution to the fantastic success of New Year's Eve in Tyne and Wear."