Gateshead match abandoned after hearse drives onto pitch

A Gateshead FC lucifer has been called disconnected successful chaos aft a ceremonial hearse and a car were driven onto the pitch.

The National League club's affable against Dunston was abandoned astatine half-time amid bonzer scenes which stunned watching supporters.

Footage posted connected societal media showed the vehicles being driven successful circles successful the centre of the pitch.

Two men - who witnesses said were masked - past climbed retired of the hearse and into the car and near the ground.

Gateshead instrumentality Archie told the BBC the intruders "apparently barged done the gross from the car park" past broke done the railings on the borderline of the pitch.

He said posters were thrown retired of the car's model successful an evident protestation earlier "two radical successful skis masks" jumped retired of the hearse and into the metallic car and drove off.

Matty Hewitt, a shot writer astatine the Newcastle Chronicle, said Northern Premier League nine Dunston's UTC Stadium was evacuated arsenic a constabulary chopper circled overhead pursuing the incident.

"Two cars driven onto the transportation with masked men getting retired and leaving a hearse connected the pitch," helium tweeted, describing it arsenic a "terrifying acquisition with plentifulness of children about".

Gateshead FC said: "Due to an incidental connected the transportation occurring soon aft fractional time, tonight's lucifer has been abandoned by the referee."

The BBC has contacted Northumbria Police for further information.