Pop duo the Cheeky Girls were appearing at the event

Underage drinkers have been blamed for a disturbance at a free music festival which left one youth with stab wounds.

Police and council leaders on South Tyneside say any similar event will have to be an all-ticket affair.

One male youth received stab wounds and more than 40 people were arrested when the event at South Shields' Sandhaven beach had to be abandoned on Saturday.

There are reports that local shops and supermarket shelves were almost cleared of drink, and teenagers were seen carrying packs of 24 cans on their shoulders before and during the event.

The show, organised by Galaxy FM and which attracted more than 10,000 people, was forced to close early as cans and bottles were hurled at the stage.

A youth from Washington was treated for a stab wound, but his injuries are described as not serious.

The event featured Transylvania pop due the Cheeky Girls and former All Saints star Mel Blatt.

But the event ended in youths going on the rampage in South Shields town centre.

Local shops reported being sold out of alcohol

Police ordered the event to be abandoned when bottles and cans were thrown at performers at the one-day event, organised by a local radio station.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "Police attended a series of fights which broke out during the free music event.

"During one of these incidents a youth received stab wound.

"He is being treated in hospital, although his wounds are not life threatening.

"A decision was made to abandon the event at around 1900 BST after more fights broke out and bottles were thrown at the stage area.

"A number of arrests were made when drunken youths then made their way into the town centre of South Shields."

A spokesman for South Tyneside Council said any future event would probably have to be limited to ticket holders.