After five years leading the city, Coun Symonds was voted out by his Labour colleagues at the weekend.

He is to be succeeded by his deputy, Coun Paul Watson.

Coun Watson, a social club owner and former shipwright, now takes over the helm of Sunderland's Labour Group – which is down to 48 councillors after suffering losses during last Thursday's local election.

Coun Symonds, a former electrician and personnel manager, returns to Labour Party rank and file once more.

Wearside also has its first female deputy leader after Hetton councillor Florence Anderson was chosen to replace Coun Watson when he moved into the top seat.

The Labour Group's new secretary, Coun Tommy Wright, said both the new leader and deputy leader were elected "overwhelmingly" at the party's Annual General Meeting on Saturday.

Labour councillors have agreed not to speak to the media about the changes, but Coun Symonds was all smiles when approached by the Echo for a comment.

There had been rumours from council insiders before the AGM that the Castle ward councillor was expecting defeat in a leadership contest.

Last year, he hung on to the leadership by just six votes after an earlier challenge from Coun Watson, who represents the Pallion ward.

During his time in office, Coun Symonds has overseen work start on the Building Schools for the Future programme, the completion of the £20million Aquatic Centre and the signing of the Friendship Agreement between Sunderland and the U.S. capital, Washington DC.

Wearside's Tory leader, Lee Martin, said the rivalry between Coun Symonds and his deputy leader was no secret and added that the fact the Labour boss "had to keep looking over his shoulder" had not helped him make progress.

"I don't think it's been good for the city," he said. "Maybe now that's happened Labour are in a position where they can move forward."

Coun Martin wished Coun Symonds all the best for his future. He said he understood being leader of Sunderland Council was a hard job, and thought his former opponent had done it for the right reasons.

But the Tory leader added that if he had been at the helm of the city council for five years, he would have liked to be looking back on more achievements.

Coun Martin the Conservative Group was open to working with Coun Watson to drive Wearside forward, and he hoped the expertise and talents of Tory councillors could be put to good use.

Other changes in the Labour group after Saturday's AGM included voting Hetton councillor Jim Blackburn in as the man responsible for transport in Wearside on the city's ruling cabinet.

The post was left vacant when Councillor Joe Lawson resigned last month. Coun Lawson went on to be voted off the city council in Thursday's election, defeated in the Houghton ward by independent candidate Sheila Ellis.

St Anne's councillor Tommy Wright took over as Labour Group secretary from Silksworth councillor Peter Gibson.

Hendon councillor Mary Smith was elected Chief Whip – responsible for party discipline.