A regional daily has celebrated the 25th anniversary of its patch gaining city status.

The Sunderland Echo splashed on Sunderland officially being recognised as a city by the Queen and carried a double page spread on how it has changed since 1992.

Her Majesty conferred city status on Sunderland on 14 February 1992 as part of her celebrations marking 40 years on the throne.

In the same years, local football team Sunderland AFC also reached the FA Cup final at Wembley.

Echo managing editor Gavin Foster said: “Becoming a city was a momentous moment for Sunderland in 1992 – the same year the football team also reached the FA Cup final.

“Looking back on those 25 years we were stunned by how much the city has changed and how much investment has been made as it tried to recover from a town reliant on the heavy industries of shipbuilding and mining that have long since vanished.

“Our heritage is very much part of what the city is about – but in those 25 years Sunderland has and continues to rise from those industrial ashes and is making a new name for itself.

“From the success of Nissan, a new football stadium, National Glass Centre and Olympic-size swimming venue to a new iconic bridge being built over the river Wear as we speak. The Tall Ships regatta is on its way and we are pushing to become City of Culture.

“The city has its challenges. It’s not all rosy in the garden by any means and I don’t think we will get another trip to Wembley any time soon. But the city has a huge amount to celebrate from the last 25 years and it all started with that moment in 1992.

“The job of any local newspaper is and must be to champion its community and this was a perfect way for the Sunderland Echo to do just that.”