A MEETING of the full council was stopped after a 51-year-old man 'breached the peace'.

Shortly before 4pm on Wednesday, Northumbria Police received a report of a disturbance at County Hall, Morpeth.

It was reported that a member of the public was being disruptive at a meeting that was being held inside.

The council chamber was evacuated for more than half an hour as police removed a man who was angrily shouting from the public gallery and refused to leave.

"Officers attended and spoke to a 51-year-old man in relation to breach of the peace", said a spokesman for the force. "He was subsequently removed from the premises and offered appropriate advice."