It was meant to be a way for strangers to share in spontaneous music.

But now Newcastle Central Station's piano lies damaged beyond repair after a mindless group of partygoers decided to destroy it.

Peter Tracey, of the Newcastle Rotary Club , came up with the idea of installing the public piano around four years ago after seeing a similar thing in a station in Prague.

He said he'd been deeply disappointed to see the damage done to an instrument which was intended to bring people together.

He said: "Unfortunately a hen party decided to have a smashing time - literally - and they've damaged the piano beyond repair.

"They kicked in the the panels under the keyboard out, and they've damaged the keyboard by hitting it.

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"It's a real shame, the piano was much-loved by everyone at the station. Lots of people used to use it on a daily basis."

The damage was spotted by security staff at the station, who moved the damaged piano out of public view. It's not believed any legal action is being taken.

Sitting near the entrance to the station with signs inviting people to 'play a tune for the Toon', the piano has become a popular feature for commuters and visitors alike.

Back in 2015, it was transformed into a shrine to rough sleeper Alan Palmer , whose beautiful renditions of classical pieces regularly turned the station entrance into a concert hall, before his tragic death.

The first piano to be installed eventually wore out from use, and this is the second which has stood in the concourse.

"It was deliberately done," Alan said. "The piano is a lovely thing, and it's for the benefit of a charity. I'm very, very sad that this happened.

"We expected there would be some damage over the years, but it's just sad that the piano has had to be taken out of service."

As well as delighting visitors and giving people a chance to share their musical talents with the world, the piano helped raise money for a good cause, with players donating more than £1,000 for the Children's Heart Unit Foundation at the Freeman Hospital since it was installed in 2015.

Happily, the station won't be left without music for long.

Peter has already managed to source a replacement instrument, discovered by a builder acquaintance as he cleared out a local church.

The new instrument will now feature collection boxes for cancer charity Daft as a Brush , and is set to be installed in the coming weeks.