Three Celtic players arrested after a fracas at the club's Christmas party were last night released on bail, Newcastle police said.

Bobby Petta, Johan Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren were attending the Glasgow club's party on Tyneside on Tuesday night when they were allegedly involved in a fracas outside a trendy night spot.

It was claimed that a press photographer's camera was stolen during the incident outside the plush Sea nightspot on the Newcastle side of the river.

The footballers spent almost 18 hours in police custody at Gateshead East police station.

Northumbria police said the three had been questioned in connection with an allegation of robbery before being released last night on police bail.

A police spokeswoman said: "Three persons arrested in relation to the incident have been bailed to attend Gateshead East police station between 1 and 2 p.m. on March 24th, 2003."

The players left the police station shortly before 9 p.m. in a white people carrier with their heads covered by coats.

A spokeswoman for Celtic FC said the players traveled back to Glasgow in the company of club officials.

The Northern Ireland international Neil Lennon was also arrested after the incident, which occurred shortly after midnight, but was later released without charge.

Lennon refused to comment on the incident yesterday.

Players from the Glasgow club had spent the evening drinking in Newcastle pubs and bars as part of their annual festive bash before heading for an American-themed bar near the Millennium Bridge on the Gateshead side of the River Tyne.

The incident involved the alleged theft of a camera after players left Buffalo Joe's showbar.

The players were later arrested by police outside the plush Sea night-spot on the Newcastle side of the river.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "The players were with the group from the club who were in Buffalo Joe's on the Gateshead side of the river, as were a number of photographers.

Celtic confirmed the players had been in Tyneside for a Christmas party.

A spokeswoman said: "The players were in Newcastle for a night out. It would be fair to say they were there in an effort to avoid attention.

"We are still investigating what happened and won't make any comment until we find out." She confirmed manager Martin O'Neill did not attend the team event.

Players from Celtic's Old Firm rivals Rangers were also due to hold a night out in Newcastle on Tuesday, but the venue was changed to Liverpool, according to a spokeswoman for Rangers.

In a statement yesterday afternoon, Daily Record editor Peter Cox said staff from the paper had been sent to spot players from the Glasgow clubs and a photographer had been involved in the incident.

He said the photographer, Paul Chappells, was chased when he began taking photographs of a violent fracas and two cameras worth £12,000 were smashed beyond repair.

He said: "My photographer made an initial statement to police and is being re-interviewed by officers today."

Belgian defender Valgaeren (26) a £3.8 million signing, and midfielders Mjallby (31) capped 40 times for Sweden, and 28-year-old Dutchman Petta are due to return to Gateshead East Police Station in March.