A press photographer who was arrested while working and later released without charge has said he will be claiming for loss of earnings after thousands of pounds worth of equipment went missing while in the care of Northumbria Police.

Marc McMahon, who runs Tynenews.com, says he was responding to a call about an incident on the Tyne Bridge on Tuesday evening when he was told by a policeman at the scene that he could not take pictures.

He told HoldtheFrontPage: "I went to the south side first and approached a policeman to who told me there was a jumper on the north side.

"I went and parked up and walked up to a police car, where I was told not to take any pictures.

"I said that was my decision and that I was within my rights, and the next thing I know I had a set of handcuffs on."

Marc says he was told he was being arrested for obstruction and was put in a police van, where he repeatedly asked for his equipment, worth £8,000.

After ten minutes in a cell he was released without charge, but his equipment was nowhere to be found.

He said: "I've made a complaint for being unlawfully arrested and detained, for excessive force and negligence and will also be claiming for loss of earnings."

A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: "We have received a complaint over the actions of officers and this is under investigation.

"A 36-year-old man was arrested for breach of the peace and police are also investigating an allegation of theft.

"A 36-year-old man has been summonsed for obstructing police in the execution of their duty."