11 reasons why 2018 was a bumper year for Sunderland
The last 12 months have flown by in a blink - and it's hard to believe that 2018 is nearly at its end.
As we move into the final days of the year and prepare for the countdown to 2019, we've taken a look back at some of the highlights from Sunderland's year. It's been a year of landmark occasions for the city, including the opening of a new bridge, a royal visit and playing host to the Tall Ships Races. Here are 11 reasons why 2018 was a bumper year across Wearside.