Coun Ian Cuthbert was the first Conservative councillor elected in Washington East ward. His wife also represented the ward.

He is deputy chairman (political) of the City of Sunderland Conservative Party, and vice chairman of governors at Fatfield Primary School.

He said: "I am 40 years old and was born in South Shields, moving to East Boldon when I was four, where I was educated at Boldon Comprehensive School.

"I lived in East Boldon with my parents until I met my wife Angela in 1990 when we moved to Seaham.

"We moved to Burnmoor in 1996 and moved to Fatfield, Washington in 2005. I have one daughter, who is six years old, and a seven-month-old German Shepherd puppy named Jaz.

"After leaving education I went to work for a small Sunderland city centre based accountancy firm, where I trained as an accountant.

"Having worked in various management roles for several different companies of different sizes over the years, including ScS the upholstery retailer, English Partnerships and Kvaerner Metals, I now work for Orange as a marketing manager specialising in customer data management.

"My family is the most important thing in my life and in my spare time I enjoy walking, playing golf, reading, listening to music and growing bonsai."