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A businessman says his well-known family firm could run into trouble – because of a tree.

Tully’s, which has been based in Sunderland for more half a century, provides sewing machines to most of the North East.

The company has been on Holmeside since 1977. Three generations of a family have run the business, with Grant Tully the current boss.

As part of Sunderland City Council’s “bus rationalisation project”, which aims to make the city centre more bus-friendly, trees have been planted along Holmeside; one of which is immediately in front of Tully’s.

Grant Tully says the growing trees outside his premises are bad for the business. Picture by Stu Norton.

Mr Tully fears that the cherry blossom could hide the shop to the extent of putting him out out of business. It stands around 2.5 metres in front of the shop and he has only recently bought the signage.

The council says it has discussed the matter with Mr Tully and has pointed to the environmental benefits of new trees.

Mr Tully says the tree, planted on May 4, will be replaced, but by a similar young tree which will obviously grow.

He said: “When I discussed this with the council, they originally said the trees could go anywhere and that they had been put in the plans to make the drawings look good. They would decide later where to put the trees.

The trees have been planted as part of Sunderland City Council's "bus rationalisation" project.

“But the trees are blocking our signage. If people can’t see your business you’re not going to last very long.

“They’ve agreed to replace the trees. But they’re going to replace them with the same type of trees, just younger. A young tree is soon going to mature into the same size as this. I’ve read that the foliage will be about three metres diameter.

“They’re clearly going to get out of hand. I think they could put us out of business."

Sunderland City Council said: “We are aware of Mr Tully’s concerns and are in an open dialogue with him.

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“The trees have been planted as part of the Holmeside Bus Rationalisation project, which commenced construction in November 2022. It forms part of a £4.6million initiative aimed at improving the city centre.

“Trees in cities have been shown to bring many benefits such as helping to filter pollutants and improving air quality.”

Tree-planting row leaves decades-old Sunderland sewing machine firm Tully's saying it faces 'going out of business'