A special archive of work which re-tells the acclaimed career of a renowned North East journalist is to be compiled at her hometown's university.

Kate Adie, a trailblazing BBC journalist is to have her life's work catalogued and archived in a special collection at the University of Sunderland.

Kate, who grew up in Sunderland, attended the now-closed Sunderland High School before she began her career in journalism in the late 60s at BBC Radio Durham.

The Northern Echo: Kate Adie pictured at a University of Sunderland event.Kate Adie pictured at a University of Sunderland event. (Image: UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND)

Now, her life including notebooks, tapes, letters, pictures, video and even fan mail from her time covering the Iranian Embassy siege in 1980 to both Gulf Wars and even details of her time as the BBC's Chief News Correspondent.

Kate said: "It has been enormous fun to dig back through the attic where I have found all sorts of memorabilia about Sunderland.

"Everything from old news photos and old prints of the city, and things surrounding my childhood, including two fragments of a bomb which fell in the back of my adoptive parents’ house during World War II.

The Northern Echo: Kate Adie at a University of Sunderland Event.Kate Adie at a University of Sunderland Event. (Image: UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND)

"The city has a wonderful history and growing up in cities like Sunderland does shape you, it makes you the person you are. Sunderland shaped me.

"It is all to do with where I come from, and I feel very strongly about that."

Funding for the project came from Archives Revealed to catalogue all of Kate’s work which is already held by the University Library as part of its Special Collections.

It will also support the employment of a dedicated Project Archivist, Dr Ellie Clewlow, for 12 months, whose work will unlock the Kate Adie Collection for future teaching, learning and research.

The Northern Echo: Some items from the collection.Some items from the collection. (Image: UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND)

Sir David Bell, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland, said: "Kate Adie is one of the most talented journalists and broadcasters of her generation, and a well-known face to millions of people around the world.

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"As a native of Sunderland, her collection of materials will be of interest locally as well as much further afield.

"We believe that Kate’s collection is a unique example of its type within the UK. It is extensive in its breadth and richness of content and includes a variety of written and audio-visual materials relating to some of the most significant events of the 20th and 21st centuries.

"For that reason, we are delighted to be showcasing it here at the University of Sunderland."