Sunderland creates first class Christmas fun.....

AN added attraction to Sunderland's busy Christmas programme is all set to deliver.

Twelve unique post boxes have now sprung up at locations around the city, from the  Museum & Winter Garden to Building Block Day Care Centre at Victoria Road, Washington to Hetton's Little Peppercorn Tearooms.

And families looking to keep their youngsters amused in the weeks ahead are encouraged to take part in the mini-trail - and be in with a chance to win a £100 Sunderland Gift Card.

The Post Box trail is part of Sunderland City Council's Welcome Back Fund project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, and has been developed in partnership with the BID and partners across the city.

The trail, which runs until 3 January, will see post boxes installed in Hetton, Houghton-le-Spring and Shiney Row, along with at STACK Seaburn, Fulwell, Pallion, Southwick and Ryhope.

And there's also the opportunity to meet up with festive characters who will be making special appearances at post boxes at various times during the run of the trail.

The hope is now that families will download the free map and snap photographs at the boxes, sharing them on social media in the hope of winning the gift card.

Anyone who takes a picture is asked to share it with the hashtag #SunderlandChristmasPostbox with a winner selected once the trail has closed.

Cllr Claire Rowntree, Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council said:

"It was great to launch these activities on Small Business Saturday - a new opportunity for some festive fun while people are out and about spending time in their neighbourhood high streets across the city or in our city centre."   

Sharon Appleby, Chief Executive of Sunderland BID, believes it will be a fun outdoor activity.

"The boxes have been deliberately placed in the heart of local communities so people have the choice to just take a picture of the one nearest to them, or to download the map and visit them all," she said.

"It's just some free fun that we hope everyone will enjoy in the weeks ahead."                                       

Details of the trail and the dates where and when the festive characters will be attending is  where the free trail map can also be downloaded.