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Five Wearside stories you might have missed

Sunderland City Council A yellow crane next to the lighthouse at Roker Pier. The area is fenced off with a sign reading SOUTHBAY at the front. Two construction workers are walking in the distance.Sunderland City Council
This week saw the start of repairs to Roker Pier in Sunderland

A new lease of life for a disused church, repairs of a much-loved pier and the start of a year of music - these are just some of the things that made the news this week.

Here are five Wearside stories you might have missed.

Pier repairs begin

Sunderland City Council Benjamin Leng (left) and Councillor Kevin Johnston standing in front of the lighthouse on Roker Pier. Mr Leng is wearing an orange hi-vis outfit and has a dark beard. Mr Johnston is wearing a black jacket. Both men are also wearing white hard hats. Sunderland City Council
Benjamin Leng, of South Bay Civil Engineering, and Councillor Kevin Johnston described the damage as significant

Repair work on Roker Pier in Sunderland is now under way.

The Grade II-listed structure was badly damaged by Storm Babet in October 2023.

It has been off limits to the public since 300ft (100m) of railings were washed away and some of the path at the pier head broke off.

The council said the scheme was costing in the region of £236,000 and it was aiming to reopen the site by the end of July.

Find out more about the works here.

Top honours for community volunteers

Google Durham County Council HQ. A slightly brutalist, roughly eight story building. Made up of many windows and concrete. It has the look of a 1960s polytechnic. Google
The awards were presented by Durham County Council's Joan Nicholson

Volunteers have been awarded the highest honour their local authority can grant for outstanding services to the community.

Chester-le-Street residents John Adey and Jimmy Carroll were among those given a Chairman's Medal by Durham County Council thanks to their community efforts to commemorate those from the borough who have fought and died in wars.

The pair were instrumental in creating the town's Remembrance memorial and annual parade, offering residents opportunities to reflect and pay their respects.

Also recognised were volunteers from the Open Door Church for their support for vulnerable residents across Willington.

Film festival returns with packed programme

Chris Allan who is wearing a black and white striped T-shirt and a grey patterned blazer stands next to Sunderland filmmaker John Lee Taggart, who is wearing a white buttoned shirt and a beige-coloured gilet, outside the cinema at the David Puttnam Media Centre. There is an entrance where there is a black surround and the words 'CINEMA' in white lettering.
Chris Allan (l) said the Sunderland Shorts Film Festival received hundreds more entries this year

A film festival has returned with its biggest programme yet, according to bosses.

The Sunderland Shorts Film Festival, which is now in its 10th year, will show more than 200 films at venues across the city centre until Sunday.

Festival director Chris Allan said it had seen its most popular year and had received more than 1,100 entries, hundreds more than in 2024.

Read more about it here.

New lease of life for disused church

LDRS A stone-built church. It has a triangular-shaped roof with a spire on the right-hand side of the building. There are trees on either side of the building. LDRS
Grade II-listed St Mary's Church dates from the 1800s

A historic church building could become an adult learning and arts centre.

Sunderland City Council's planning department has approved the change of use of St Mary's Church in South Hylton.

The Grade II-listed structure, which sits on the corner of Wear Street and Church Street, dates to the 1800s and has been vacant for some time.

Read more about the plans here.

Opening acts for music year announced

Victoria Wai Adele Sandé on stage, performing at the piano. Victoria Wai
Sandé received an MBE for services to music in 2017

Chart-topping indie rockers Franz Ferdinand and acclaimed singer-songwriter Adele Sandé are to kick off a year-long major celebration of music.

The two acts will launch the Sunderland Year of Music 2025-2026 in June.

It will mark Franz Ferdinand's return to Wearside for the first time in more than a decade, while Sunderland-born Sandé - formerly known as Emeli - will be making her stage debut under her real name.

The gigs will kickstart a week of special live events across the city.

Read more about it here.

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