SIX people began 2013 in hospital as New Year’s celebrations in the region turned to violence.

A spate of attacks across the region kept police busy during the early hours of yesterday morning.

At just before 12.10am, police received reports that two men were fighting on a street in North Tyneside.

Officers arrived at Rocket Way, in Forest Hall, and two men, aged 22 and 36, were taken to hospital and arrested on suspicion of assault. Police say the men’s injuries are not life-threatening.

At just after 1.30am, police were called to Bar 44 on Ocean Road in South Shields, South Tyneside, where a man had been attacked. The 21-year-old was taken to hospital with a head injury but has since been discharged.

Police believe he had been punched, and a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault.

Other drinkers in two night clubs were also injured in stab attacks.

A man was stabbed in the back at LQ on Newcastle’s New Bridge Street. He was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary following the attack, which happed at just before 4.10am, but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Three men, one aged 23 and two aged 24, were arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent.

A 24-year-old man was also stabbed in the arm at the Basement and Utopia Bar on Green Terrace in Sunderland, at around 2am The victim was seriously injured but his condition is not thought to be life-threatening.

A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent. Officers are now appealing for witnesses.

And a 33-year-old woman was also taken to hospital after suffering a stabbing-type injury at a house on Amherst Road, in Fawdon, Newcastle.

The incident was reported to police at around 1.15am.

Chief Supt Kay Blyth, of Northumbria Police said officers made quick arrests after the attacks and that most of the people involved knew each other. “Northumbria Police dealt with a number of separate incidents across the whole force area on New Year’s Eve.

“These incidents were unconnected and involved people that were know to each other and resulted in immediate arrests,” she said.

“Although the night was busy, it was not unusually so compared to most New Year’s Eves.”

Anyone with any information about any of the attacks should call Northumbria Police on 101.

There were 179 people arrested in the Northumbria Police area on New Year’s Eve, but that was down from the year before.