A NORTH-EAST city is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

Following the failure of earlier bids for city status, Sunderland was named a city on Valentine's Day, 1992.

With the largest population between Edinburgh and Leeds, many argued that it had long merited the accolade, and the announcement of its success prompted a composition by Sunderland-born musician Dave Stewart and a commemorative cover by the Royal Mail.

The city has become one of the biggest car production centres in the UK and will host the International Automotive Conference for the fifth time this March.

It boats a thriving service sector at Doxford International Business Park, which is classed as the UK's most successful Enterprise Zone, and attractions including the National Glass Centre and The Stadium of Light.

As part of the Nice One Sunderland campaign, in 2000, the city council promoted Sunderland's transformation throughout the country.

Research has shown that half of the infrequent visitors to the city would return as a result.

Sunderland City Council's chief executive, Colin Sinclair, said: "These past ten years have been a real turning point for the city.

"Sunderland is transforming at a phenomenal rate. The closure of the coal mines and shipbuilding industries saw a fundamental change, and people's resilience was put to the test as never before.

"In the past five years, employment opportunities have been created for thousands of people, and unemployment has dropped significantly.

"The council is committed to the attraction of further business and the future is looking bright.