A food and drink festival has served up a £2.8 million boost to the economy.
The Sunderland Food and Drink Festival, held over three days in the city centre in early June, drew 70,000 visitors - up from 50,000 the previous year.
Visitors enjoyed daily music and performances across High Street West and Keel Square, with the former Argos site used for the first time to host traders and a community stage.
Organised by Sunderland’s Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), the event featured live entertainment, street markets, and dozens of food stalls offering international cuisine.
Zafer Saygilier, owner of Flower Café at High Street West, said: "We are so delighted to be in Sunderland and be part of all of the exciting things going on there.
"We had increased footfall and were really busy throughout the Food and Drink Festival and it is absolutely fantastic to see the city centre buzzing and full of people."
Businesses across the city reported high demand throughout the weekend.
Roberta Redecke, head of business services at Sunderland’s BIDs, said: "The Sunderland Food and Drink Festival continues to grow year on year and we were busy from literally the minute the event began.
"The atmosphere across the city was fantastic and it was amazing to see so many people attending, sitting in and around the cafes and bars in Keel Square enjoying the music and visiting all the stalls on High Street West and the former Argos site.
"The stallholders have all reported back that they did amazing trade throughout the weekend, as did all of the established businesses.
"It has become an important event not just on the city’s calendar but for the North East, with visitors coming from across the region to attend."
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The festival was supported by Stagecoach North East.
Steve Walker, managing director of Stagecoach North East, said: "We’re proud to support events such as the Sunderland Food and Drink Festival, which showcase everything that is great about the city and bring significant benefits to local businesses and the wider economy.
"It was fantastic to see the city buzzing with activity, and we look forward to continuing to support events that bring communities together and help Sunderland thrive."
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