Hundreds of thousands celebrate Newcastle's Carabao Cup win

Pamela Tickell

BBC News, North East and Cumbria

The city centre was at a standstill as fans cheered the buses through the streets of Newcastle

Reuters Tens of thousands of people cheer as the buses pass through the streets of Newcastle. — The city centre was at a standstill as fans cheered the buses through the streets of Newcastle

Hundreds of thousands of supporters flooded into Newcastle to celebrate the football club’s historic cup win.

Newcastle United won the Carabao Cup earlier this month, ending their 70-year wait for domestic silverware.

The team travelled on two open-top buses through the city centre’s streets, which were packed with crowds, to a large celebration on the Town Moor, as crowds of supporters roared them on.

Geordie duo Ant & Dec hosted the celebration, with manager Eddie Howe describing it as a “very emotional day” and club legend Alan Shearer saying: “We could get used to this.”

Watch: Sea of black and white covers Newcastle as Ant & Dec bring Toon joy

As the crowds gathered, a giant Eddie Howe banner was unveiled near St James’ Park

The buses made their way from the stadium…

Reuters Thousands of people outside St James' park cheer on the open-top buses. — The buses made their way from the stadium…

…and through the streets of Newcastle city centre

PA Media Newcastle United fans watch on as the players pass by aboard an open top bus during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle. — …and through the streets of Newcastle city centre

Howe was interviewed on top of the bus.

He said: “This is really incredible, absolutely mind-blowing.

“You’ve got people hanging from lampposts, out of buildings, I hope everyone’s all right.”

Howe said he was “very emotional” when he saw a massive flag of himself created by supporters’ group Wor Flags unfurled near the stadium.

“I can’t thank everyone enough, from Newcastle, the way they’ve embraced me and my family and I’m glad to have given them some joy,” he said.

Carol McLaughin, from Wallsend, was with her daughter Tracy Morris who flew in from Perth, Australia

Poppy, 10, from Washington, got a wave from Dan Burn

Watch: Newcastle fans flock to the streets for Carabao Cup win parade

The buses and crowds then turned into the Town Moor, a large open area just outside the city centre, where 150,000 fans had already gathered to welcome their heroes home.

Shearer was one of the club legends who took to the stage.

“The last two weeks have just been… probably the best of my life,” he said.

“We could get used to this, couldn’t we?

“I wanted this to happen in my lifetime and it’s happened so whatever happens from now on, I can go happy,” Shearer added.