RIVALRIES between two North-East cities date back more than 400 years, academics have revealed.

Experts from Durham and Sunderland universities working on a history of Sunderland have discovered fascinating facts about the city vying with Newcastle to be the biggest and best centre in the region.

Sunderland University historian Maureen Meikle said she had uncovered information that showed the deep roots of the rivalry between the two cities.

In the 1600s, Newcastle regarded its Wearside neighbour as an upstart.

Ms Meikle said: "I found a completely hidden history of Sunderland between 1600 and 1719.

"We did know a little about the civil wars, but the history before that and after that is fascinating.

"Sunderland goes from a little fishing village of 30 houses and by 1600 is taking off - a bit like a gold rush town in the Wild West."

The £750,000 project aims to be the most in-depth study of Wearside ever undertaken.

It has been funded by the Heritage Lottery and is being carried out as part of the Victoria County History of England series, which was established in 1899.

Historian Jeanette Hilton agreed that Wearside's history is not complete.

She said: "There are big gaps in our local history knowledge, so I hope this study will develop some major research and uncover some areas that we have not recognised before."