Wearside stories you might have missed

A man who ran seven marathons on seven continents, a new Metro train and the discovery of a suitcase belonging to the famed Tutankhamun explorer.

Here are some stories you might have missed on Wearside this week.

A runner from Sunderland became the first British person to win a seven marathons on seven continents in seven days challenge.

Paul Holborn, 40, won the World Marathon Challenge, which saw him run 26.2 miles (42.2 km) in Antarctica, South Africa, Australia, UAE, Spain, Brazil and USA all within a week.

Mr Holborn, who now lives in Texas, had never completed a marathon before signing up for the event 19 months ago.

A former professional boxer, he said the challenge "seemed so impossible" and "just the thought of doing one marathon was always crazy".

Earlier this week, one of the Tyne and Wear Metro's new trains made its first run on the network's Sunderland line.

The first of the Metro's new fleet entered service in December after several delays, although the Stadler-built train had been confined to the line running between Newcastle and South Shields.

Metro operator Nexus said another train had now gone from South Hylton and Sunderland city centre on its way to Newcastle Airport in what it called an "important step" for its new fleet.

Forty-six new trains are due to replace Metro's ageing stock over the next two years with half of them scheduled to be running by the end of 2025.

Plans to reduce a theatre's opening hours have prompted concerns about its future.

The Empire Consett, in County Durham, is due to be shut three days a week as part of a revised timetable proposed by Durham County Council.

But residents warned it would harm the viability of the venue and Consett town centre.

The local authority said the Empire, alongside Gala in Durham and Bishop Auckland Town Hall, which it also manages, was facing several challenges and it was focused on financially sustainable programmes.

Bus drivers who raised concerns over safety said they resigned because "they felt they had no choice" and were "worried" for the welfare of passengers.

Angela Bradford and John Hamflett, who worked for Go North East (GNE) at its depot in Consett, County Durham, stepped down after they were suspended for delaying signing a safety declaration letter.

Unite the Union said it was consulting with 1,300 drivers and staff over potential industrial action following the suspension of Ms Bradford, Mr Hamflett and several others.

GNE said it was "committed to ensuring the highest safety standards at all times" and suspensions were "in accordance with our established procedures".

A suitcase believed to have been owned by the explorer who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun has been found under a bed.

Antiques expert David Harper said the suitcase, bearing a unique design of Egyptologist Howard Carter's initials, was gifted to his colleague John Healey before he died.

When Mr Healey died in the early 1970s, the suitcase was kept under his son's bed in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Mr Harper said the item was "mind-boggling," adding: "These cases carried important documents including artefacts from Tutankhamun's tomb."

Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.