Sunderland LIVE: Your latest traffic, weather and news updates for the North East

The future of funding for Tyne and Wear’s firefighters has been branded ‘at best, perilous’ by fire chiefs.

In June, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) was officially marked Good by assessors from HMICFRS, the government’s fire and police watchdog – despite government cuts which have seen the brigade’s spending power slashed by about a fifth since 2010.

But although they acknowledged the financial challenges facing the organisation, inspectors raised concerns about its ability to meet further savings targets forced on it.

Read more here.

Most regions have their own unique turn of phrase that become part of the local lingo, and Sunderland is no exception.
Take the quiz here.

During the three day event, Northumbria Police has revealed just nine people were arrested at the Sunderland Airshow.

Superintendent Mark Hall, of Northumbria Police’s silver commander for the Airshow, has thanked the public following the three-day event, which finished on Sunday, July 28.

Tens of thousands of spectators descended on the seafront to join in the fun – and not even the drizzly and grey weather could dampen the spirits of those who went along.

Officers were on duty throughout the weekend to keep visitors safe and engage with the public, who looked to the skies in delight as the spectacular flying displays were staged above.

Read more here.

A "ruthless" blackmailer who set up a "honey trap" to extort over £1,000 from a client who used an online escort service has been put behind bars.

Jobless Colin Hawkins, 27, set up a fake account on the Kommons Escort site, then blackmailed a customer who had bought three nude pictures from him for £20.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim emptied his bank account to pay off Hawkins in a bid to keep his exchange with the escort a secret from his partner and was left in "considerable anxiety and terror" that he would be exposed.

Hawkins, of Baltimore Avenue, Sunderland, admitted blackmail and has beenjailed for 27 months.

Read more here.

The RSPCA are investigating the death of a baby seal whose body was found on Crimdon Beach.

A woman took her dog for a walk in the Crimdon Beach area on the evening of Thursday, July 25 and came across a baby seal and reported it to the RSPCA in case it has been injured but hoped it was just having a rest, and left it to continue her walk.

She returned to the next day to see if the seal was still there and was devastated to find the young seal pup dead on the beach.

Read more here.

Most regions have their own unique turn of phrase that become part of the local lingo, and Sunderland is no exception. Can you ace our quiz though?

Follow the link here to take part in the fun!

Motorcyclist dies after Sunderland crash

David Steel, 50, of Ford Estate, Sunderland, died on Sunday, July 28 as a result of serious injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash.

Click here to read the full report.

There was plenty to see in the skies and by the sea across the three-day event – and while some criticsed cancelled flying displays and wet weather, it was great to hear so many of you had a fantastic time.

Click here to see some of your comments from our social media pages.

Go North East is reminding customers of changes to its bus services this week.

Service 39 at Pennywell from Wednesday, July 31 until Friday, August 2.
Hylton Road at Pennywell will be closed for resurfacing from Wednesday, July 31 until Friday, August 2.

During this time, buses will be unable to serve Hylton Road or Parkhurst Road. Please use stops on Nookside.

Service 8 at Ferryboat Lane in Sunderland from Wednesday, July 31 until Friday, August 2.
Due to resurfacing of the southern section of Ferryboat Lane from Wednesday, July 31 to Friday, August 2, overnight each night from 7pm to 6am, the last Sunderland bound journey on service 8, at 7.29pm will be diverted via A1231 Wessington Way to the next roundabout, then left to Barons Quay Road (at Petrol Station), then right at next roundabout to Fawcett Terrace and normal route.

Buses will be unable to serve stops on Ringway or Grange Road - please use stops on Fawcett Terrace.

A police investigation into a fire that caused severe damage to a furniture store in Sunderland is now being treated as arson.

Four fire engines were called to a blaze at the Home Living Furniture store on Ryhope Road in Sunderland in the early hours of on Sunday, July 28. Northumbria Police were alerted by the fire brigade shortly after 1am and also attended the scene.

Click here to read more.

Wessington Way will be closed eastbound from 7pm until 6am on Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 20 between Colima Avenue roundabout and the Northern Spire junction.

During this closure, buses will be unable to serve stop at Sainsburys towards Sunderland, please use next stop closer to North Hylton Road.

Four fire engines were scrambled to the blaze at Home Living Furniture on Toll Bar Road, Sunderland, in the early hours of July 28.

The public were advised by fire fighters to stay away from the area and there have been no reports of any casualties. Click here to read the full report.

At her heaviest, Maxine Wren was 27st 12lbs - but now, she's really made some changes.

She says she owes Slimming World her life after the organisation helped her to lose the weight that was preventing her from having a future.

Click here to find out what happened.

GP practices across Sunderland face “significant challenges” around workforce, workload and delivering more out-of-hospital care, according to committee papers.

A new five-year strategy has been rubber-stamped by health bosses in the city - and itaims to “ensure the sustainability of general practice” going forward.

Find out more and see how it could affect you in our full report here.

Volunteers at Sunderland Lifeboat Station have confirmed they were paged shortly after 1.15am on Monday, July 29, to reports of an incident on the River Wear.

According to a post on their Facebook page, the service was paged following a request from Northumbria Police to support a 'multi-agency incident' on the Wear.

They added: "Thankfully the incident was swiftly resolved and all emergency services were stood down at 1.30am."

It's that time again - Monday has arrived and your new working week has begun. It's Debra and Faye here manning the blog for the early shift.

Don't forget to Tweet us at @SunderlandEcho and say hello 👋👋👋