A NORTH-EAST university has received the keys to its £9m media centre .

Sunderland University's Media Centre will form part of a centre of excellence for the arts.

The building has studios, workshops and edit suites, as well as facilities for TV and radio production and journalism. There are also "incubator" units to encourage graduates to set up businesses on Wearside.

Staff and students moved into the centre earlier this month.

The university's Sony Media Centre has also relocated to the building, at the Sir Tom Cowie Campus, at St Peter's.

Vice-chancellor Professor Peter Fidler said: "This is an important development for the university, the city and the wider region.

"As well as providing skilled graduates for the rapidly developing creative industries, we strongly believe that the new centre can act as a catalyst to help foster new job creation."

The project has received funding from individuals, corporate and charitable bodies, through the efforts of the university's Development Trust, as well as Higher Education Funding Council for England, and other grant support.