The end of the rainbow - watch as Sunderland seafront landmark bites the dust

The distinctive rainbow sign for Seaburn Funpark is no more after it was pulled down this afternoon.

Nobles Funfairs were asked to remove the famous sign by the council as they prepare the site for a Bank Holiday fair.

At the height of its popularity in the '80s, the site was operated by J Crow and sons, whose name was still on the sign, but in recent years the 1.88 acre site has mostly been empty, aside from pop up events and temporary fairs to coincide with the Illuminations and Airshow.

Darren Noble said: "The council asked us to take it down and part of the fence as it was badly damaged from rot. It's a really well-known sign and a part of Sunderland's history, but we're not sure what they're going to do with it now."

Last week, the Echo revealed how plans for a range of pop-up attractions including cinemas, restaurants and cycle hubs have been given the go-ahead for the area including the funfair.

Temporary permission has been granted for the scheme, which will form part of the regeneration of Seaburn seafront, including the sites of Seaburn Funpark, the Seaburn Centre and the Pullman Lodge Hotel.

The proposals are intended to keep the site in use until permanent development proposals can be submitted and could see activities housed in shipping containers.

Nobles Funfair will be running a fair on the site across the Bank Holiday weekend from 5pm to 8.30pm this Friday and 12.30pm to 6pm on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

The Echo has contacted Sunderland City Council for a comment.