A national politician has hit out at the need to stop hundreds of thousands of tonnes of sewage and waste water ending up in the sea off Seaburn and Whitburn.

Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Munira Wilson MP visited Wearside as part of the party's local election campaigning - and heard for herself about the threats to swimmers and surfers posed by Sunderland's sewage scandal.

Wearside's Liberal Democrats have attacked Conservative boasts about police funding as "smoke and mirrors" that dress up a potential Council Tax rise as if it were extra funding from the Government.

Local Conservatives have claimed that "Northumbria Police is set to receive an additional £18.6 million in its funding, thanks to the Conservative Government's increase to police budgets."

An application has been submitted to Sunderland Council for works at a Seaburn building site to be allowed to take place from 8am until 9pm, prompting anger from neighbours and local Lib Dems.

Miller Homes have applied to Sunderland City Council to be allowed to work on the site of new homes being built at Seaburn Camp later at night.

Liberal Democrats in Sunderland are calling on the council to re-open public toilets as public urination and human excrement becomes problem at the city's sea front.

Lib Dem campaigner for Fulwell and Seaburn Malcolm Bond is calling on the City Council to re-open toilet facilities along the Sunderland sea front after an influx of visitors in recent days has led to public urination and even reports of human excrement being found in the area.