This is when Sunderland's Household Waste and Recycling Centre will reopen for 'essential' use

Measures will be put in place to ensure social distancing at the Beach Street centre - which is reopening to help families who cannot store their waste safely at home and have no alternative means of disposal.

Opening hours will be between 8am and 8pm from Monday, and a booking system is being introduced at the site to minimise waiting times and prevent the build-up of queues to get in.

Half-hour time slots will be available on a first come, first served basis. There will be no access to the site without a booking.

Councillor Amy Wilson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: "We appreciate that lots of our residents will have been having clear-outs during the lockdown which will have generated additional waste.

"But we are still in lockdown so we are appealing to residents to only make a trip if it's absolutely essential and to observe the social distancing rules which are there for your own safety.

"Our priority is helping residents to use the site as quickly and safely as possible. And we would appeal to residents to work with us and follow the new guidelines to help us manage the high volume of vehicles anticipated.

"We expect the site to be very busy which is why we have introduced a booking system to avoid our residents having to wait in a queue for a long time. We are also having to limit the number of cars on site at any one time to maintain social distancing.

"So far Sunderland residents have been very supportive of our efforts to manage their waste and ensure the safety of our refuse and recycling teams, and I would like to thank everybody using the site in advance for their patience and support in keeping everybody safe."

Only cars will be allowed to visit the site, with proof of address and/or booking displayed on the windscreen.

Traffic management arrangements will also be in place at the centre due to a significant number of roadworks in the area, relating to the third phase of the Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor.

Only bagged household waste, garden waste, cardboard and wood - including old furniture - will be accepted at the centre.

New guidance which residents are being asked to follow includes:

*Anyone in self-isolation or showing Covid-19 symptoms must not visit the centre.

*Any households which have had COvid-19 symptoms should wait 72 hours before bringing waste to the site. The waste must be double-bagged.

*Only cars will be allowed.

*Residents must book an appointment to visit the centre.

*Proof of booking and proof of address may be required and should be displayed in car windscreens.

*Residents should wash their hands before and after visiting, and avoid touching their faces.

To book a slot, visit the Sunderland City Council website here.