Two North East journalists were stopped and searched by police while conducting a vox pop in a town centre street.

Photographer Peter Benn and reporter Joanna Desira, from the Evening Gazette, attracted the attention of two police community support officers in Middlesbrough.

The Gazette reports that the PCSOs asked the duo what they were doing and cited the Terrorism Act as the reason for the stop and search before demanding to see ID.

Peter and Joanne explained they were from the Gazette but still had to provide identification to prove who they were.

Gazette editor Darren Thwaites said: "We are very supportive of police efforts to tackle real criminals, but this is beyond a joke.

"Officers must not be allowed to pervert an act that was designed to protect us against terrorism, into one that erodes people's civil liberties.

"There was no justification whatsoever for stopping our journalists from going about their lawful business."

Assistant Chief Constable Sean White told the Gazette: "Members of the press have an absolute right to go about their business fairly and without incident and there are no restrictions on any aspects of journalism on Teesside.

"Equally in a busy town centre members of Cleveland Police do have a right to ask for identification to establish the purpose of those who might be involved in photography around crowded built up urban areas and public space.

"Police officers and police community support officers of the force have been briefed to ask to pay attention to crowded places but that is part of counter terrorism national strategy."

The Gazette says Mr White insisted the PCSOs "were not exercising any similar powers under terrorism legislation".

In February hundreds of photographers gathered outside New Scotland Yard, in London, to protest over the new Counter Terrorism Act 2008 which some snappers feel is being used to prevent legitimate photography in public places.