A DOCUMENTARY series about everyday life on the Tyne and Wear Metro pulled in an impressive 2.6 million viewers on Tuesday night.

The first episode of The Metro: A Rail Life Story was screened nationally on ITV at 7.30pm, offering viewers a chance to go behind the scenes at one Britain’s busiest transport networks.

Overnight viewing figures show that 2.6 million people tuned in to watch the programme, which showed Metro staff managing the huge crowds who travelled to the Spice Girls concert at the Stadium of Light.

Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, gave unprecedented access to film crews over the busy summer of 2019.

Customer services director at Nexus, Huw Lewis, said: “We’re delighted with such impressive viewing figures for the first episode. We’re really proud of the region that we serve and the part that Metro plays in everyday life, and it’s fantastic that people across Britain saw what we have to offer.

“To get 2.6 million people tuning in to watch a TV programme about the Tyne and Wear Metro is absolutely fantastic.

“We are already excited about the second episode next week, where viewers will get to see even more of the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the Metro system running.

“It’s a privilege for us to showcase and share this unique transport system in our wonderful and vibrant region with a wider television audience as we prepare to mark Metro’s 40th anniversary."

The first episode will be repeated on Sunday, January 18, at 10.45pm.

Episode two of Metro: A Rail Life Story goes out on ITV on Tuesday, January 21, at 7.30pm.