THE LOYALTY of North-East athletics enthusiasts will be put to the test this afternoon when Gateshead International Stadium hosts the star-studded Norwich Union Classic.

For the organisers have been alarmed by the lack of interest in the top-notch pre-Olympic meeting and have hurriedly introduced a two-for-the-price-of-one offer and have even been giving away tickets to local newspapers in a bid to fill the stadium.

Before the weekend only 5,000 of the stadium's capacity of 11,000 seats had been sold, and Gateshead Council are worried that lack of interest - which could be highlighted on television this afternoon - could be the kiss of death to their bid to host the 2006 European Championships.

The North-East has always been noted for its whole-hearted support for big athletics events, even during bad weather, but interest over the last couple of years has waned dramatically.

Tyneside athletics personality Brendan Foster, who set a new 3,000m world record in front of 10,000 spectators when the stadium's Tartan track first opened on August 3, 1974, has appealed to the fans to turn out in force to secure the future of big-time athletics at Gateshead.

No-one has done more than Foster to promote the sport in the North-East and he wants ethusiasts to turn out in force.

He said: "Questions have been asked and there has been some last minute rushing around to try to promote the meeting and let people know that they can enjoy as great feast of athletics.

"The object of the exercise is to fill the stadium and send the British team off to the Sydney Olympics with the crowd's encouragement ringing in their ears."

He added: "People are coming back on holiday and hopefully there will be enough people turning up on Monday to fill the stadium.

"If you ask any of the athletes whenever they compete at Gateshead they find the crowd very knowledgeable and very respectful and they get great support."

Shot-putter Judy Oakes, who set a new British record of 19.36m at Gateshead, said: "It's a wonderful place to compete. The crowd is very knowledgeable and I am sure on Monday when the sun's out they will be flooding in."

The programme is packed with interest, including the appearance of the world's fastest athlete, Maurice Green, heading a list of star performers.

Arguably Great Britain's best hopes for Olympic titles, sprint hurdler Colin Jackson and world triple jump record holder Jonathan Edwards, will be in action, while there is a note of controversy as European and Commonwealth 400m champion Iwan Thomas, snubbed by the Olympic selectors after missing the trials, will be out to prove them wrong.

And crowd favourite Paula Radcliffe will be hoping to leave Tyneside 5,000 dollars richer - the prize offered by meeting organisers Fast Track - for breaking the UK 3000m record.

Bedford's leading distance runner has fully recovered from a knee injury which delayed her track season and is hoping to improve the record 8min 27.40sec she clocked in Zurich last August.

Radcliffe, the World 10,000m silver-medallist, has been impressive in her recent performances.

Radcliffe will be in good company at Gateshead, lining up against the 1998 European Championships 5,000m and 10,000m gold medallist Sonia O'Sullivan, who ran the second fastest 3000m time in the world this year in Zurich.

l Chester-le-Street AC's Michael Morris (5min 20.28sec) was a comfortable winner over Shaftsbury Barnet Harrier Dominic Bannister over 2000m in the annual Tartan Games at Gateshead International Stadium.

Fast-improving Gateshead Harrier Michael Witten set a new meeting under-17 javelin record of 54.76m, while Morpeth Harrier Nisha Desai completed a double in the under-17 300m and 800m