A MONK who helped the North-East become the cradle of Christianity in early Medieval England could be adopted as a city's patron saint.

St Benedict Biscop, the Seventh Century monk credited with starting the city's glass-making industry, was the founder of St Peter's Church, in Monkwearmouth, in 674.

The people of Sunderland selected the saint, also known as Benet Biscop, as their choice as the city's patron saint in a poll in the mid-1990s.

He beat other figures from the early Christian era, such as the Venerable Bede and St Cuthbert. Sunderland City Council consulted religious groups and approved the proposal at the time.

The council's cabinet is being asked to back the idea at a meeting on Wednesday, as well as to back an annual celebration of the saint. If the meeting approves the move, it will go before the full council.

Councillors will also be asked to explore options to stage events to celebrate other faiths.

Interest in St Benedict was revived with a civic service at Sunderland Minster in January, the sixth anniversary of the inauguration of the church as a minster.

During the service, the Dean of Durham, the Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, said Biscop was the perfect choice for patron saint.

Canon Stephen Taylor, team rector at the minster, said the move was a chance to unite people around a celebration of Sunderland's traditions and culture.

The Durham diocese supports the proposal.