Sunderland people look through the wreckage of a 1940 German air raid.Sunderland people look through the wreckage of a 1940 German air raid.
Sunderland people look through the wreckage of a 1940 German air raid.

A tribute to the Sunderland people who lived through the Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain brought terror to the skies and it all started 80 years ago today.

For months, German planes targeted British towns and cities and Sunderland was one of the those to suffer the worst of German attacks.

These photos, from the Sunderland Echo archives, show the effect of the Nazi air raids and the fightback by the Royal Air Force.

They also show how life went on despite the daily threat to life.

Take a look at these historic Wearside reminders of some of the most dramatic days in British history.