11 places to park in Sunderland if you're affected by Tyne and Wear Metro strike

RMT members, who work as drivers on the Tyne and Wear Metro, are taking industrial action today, Friday, December 20, and tomorrow, Saturday, December 21, as part of an ongoing dispute with system operator Nexus over their pay deal.

This means no Metro trains will be running, all stations will be closed across its network and there will be no replacement bus service.

It comes following a dispute over pay Nexus had offered train crew a 15% rise in pay over two years, on top of cost-of-living increases, along with improved shift patterns which is says would bring Metro’s train crew salary up to £46,000 per year by April 2022.

However the Union has said this still falls short of industry standard and staff are being expected to work overtime and are unable to take annual leave.

And the strike has fallen on two of the busiest days of the year. Black Eye Friday is often a busy night out for Christmas partygoers and Saturday is likely to see festive shoppers hit the high streets ahead of December 25. Newcastle United will also play Crystal Palace at St James' Park on Saturday.

Many regular passengers will be having to find alternative transport or drive to work.

If you’re travelling to Sunderland over the next few days here’s when you can park:

Bridges: With 940 parking spaces, motorists can use either the Rooftop or Multi-storey car parks. It's open 7am-11.30pm Monday-Saturday, and costs £1.50 an hour between 7am and 6pm and 50p an hour between 6pm and 6am. Flat rate of £2 a day on Sundays and holidays. Where? To the Bridges Rooftop Car Park SR1 3DR / to our Multi-Storey Car Park SR1 3PZ.

St Mary's multi storey: 480 spaces on four floors. Price? £1.50 per hour between 8am and 6pm and 90p per hour thereof. Car park closes at 11.30pm. Where? St Mary's Boulevard, SR1 3AH - A183 (entrance via Cumberland Street/Matlock Street).

Sunniside car park: It has 653 spaces and is open 24 hours a day. Price? £1.30 an hour between 8am and 6pm and 90p an hour thereof. Sundays and bank holidays, flat rate only of £2.00. Where? William Street, off High Street West, SR1 1UL

Boughton Street Car Park: Surface car park with 56 spaces. Price? Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm: £1.30 per hour or part thereof. Free parking on Sundays. Where? Entrance from Tunstall Road, SR1 3NH

Civic Centre car park: Multi storey car park with 630 spaces. Price? Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm: £1.20 per hour or part thereof. Where? Entrances on Park Lane/Cowan Terrace and Burdon Road A1018, SR2 7SN

Tatham Street car park: Surface car park with 94 spaces. Price? Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm: £1.00 per hour or part thereof. Where? Tatham Street, Sunderland, SR1 2QD

Livingstone Road car park: Surface car park with 157 spaces. Price? Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm from £1.30 per hour or part thereof. 6pm to midnight is a flat rate of £2. Free on Sunday. Where? St Mary's Boulevard, SR1 3AW.

Gorse Road car park: Surface car park with 54 spaces. Price? Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm: 80p per hour or part thereof. Where? Gorse Road, Sunderland, SR2 7DE

West Wear Street car park: Surface car park with 40 spaces. Price? Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm: £1.00 per hour or part thereof. Where? West Wear Street, Sunderland, SR1 1XD

High Street West car park: Surface car park with 35 spaces. Price? Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm: 90p per hour or part thereof. Where? High Street West, Sunderland, SR1 1UN

Nile Street car park: Surface car park with 49 spaces. Price? Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm: £1.20 per hour or part thereof. Where? Nile Street, Sunderland, SR1 1EY