Guns N' Roses have defended their decision to cut short a gig in Newcastle last Wednesday after members of the crowd started throwing objects at the stage, including glass bottles.

Singer Axl Rose was reportedly injured twice in the incident and the band have now issued a statement to defend themselves after the walk out.

Rose says the band were unanimous in their decision to leave the stage and perfectly within their rights as the situation spiralled out of control.

The statement issued by Axl Rose said, "Getting hit wasn't a big deal. We stopped the song and gave a warning. We came back and started the song over and completed it. We then said goodnight. The house lights went down and I got hit a second time, in the mouth, by a solid object thrown by someone in the audience."

"After having warned the crowd that we would leave, and having played more than two hours, we left the stage and called it a night with the full support of everyone in the band, our guests and management."

"Izzy (Stradlin) was the first to immediately support the decision verbally to me personally before I had physically left the stage area."

"Tommy and Frank came to my dressing room to say how much they appreciated the decision to not continue under those conditions, and express their support for not tolerating anyone throwing items at the stage with a negative intent."

Guns N' Roses will play the last four dates of their sold out UK tour this week, starting in Birmingham tonight.

The dates are

25 - Birmingham NEC
27 - Nottingham Arena
29/30 - London Wembley Arena