today at 1: we're live in sunderland, finding out how businesses, families and households are coping with the cost of living, as prices rise at their fastest rate in a0 years. an increase in food prices pushed inflation above 10% in september. the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. children not being able to eat and things like that. the prime minister confirms that pensions will rise in line with the inflation figure — as she faces questions in the commons for the first time since the chancellor u—turned on her economic plans. economic credibility, gone.

and her supposed best friend, the former chancellor, he's gone as well. they're all gone, so why is she still here? cheers mr speaker... sneers mr speaker, lam a fighter, not a quitter. and the other main stories this lunchtime: up to 45 babies may have survived — if they'd received better care at east kent nhs hosptials trust, finds a damning inquiry. russia says it's evacuating civilians from the occupied city of kherson — as ukrainian forces make big gains in the area. and in cricket — ireland beat scotland by six wickets, at the t20 world cup in australia. and coming up on the bbc news channel: we look ahead to a busy night in the premier league.

five games — including liverpool against west ham, while manchester united host tottenham. good afternoon, and welcome to the bbc�*s news at one. figures show the cost of living is rising at the fastest rate for a0 years. inflation rose above 10% for the 12 months to september, with most of that increase due to higherfood prices. the chancellor, jeremy hunt, has acknowledged families are struggling with rising prices and said the government will prioritise help for the most vulnerable. earlier, the prime minister confirmed that pensions will rise with inflation. well, today, we're here

in sunderalnd talking to households, families and busineses and asking how they are coping. our economics correspondent, andy verity, explains what's driven today's rise in inflation. pension, £140 a week. in sunderland, “ust like pension, £140 a week. in sunderland, just like every — pension, £140 a week. in sunderland, just like every other _ pension, £140 a week. in sunderland, just like every other town _ pension, £140 a week. in sunderland, just like every other town in _ pension, £140 a week. in sunderland, just like every other town in the - just like every other town in the country, pensioners are increasingly struggling to get by on state pensions, whichjust struggling to get by on state pensions, which just like struggling to get by on state pensions, whichjust like benefits for people of working age, last went up for people of working age, last went up by for people of working age, last went up byjust 3.1%. prices for people of working age, last went up byjust 3.1%. prices are for people of working age, last went up byjust 3.1%. prices are now rising more than three times as fast. pensioners have been demanding a bigger rise. i fast. pensioners have been demanding a bigger rise-— fast. pensioners have been demanding a bigger rise-_ fast. pensioners have been demanding a bigger rise-— a bigger rise. i think it's about time something _ a bigger rise. i think it's about time something was _ a bigger rise. i think it's about time something was done - a bigger rise. i think it's about i time something was done about pensions. they missed the triple lock last year and it should be on this year. lock last year and it should be on this ear. �* ., , , ., lock last year and it should be on this ear. �* ., , this year. i'm a pensioner as well. the cost of _ this year. i'm a pensioner as well. the cost of living _ this year. i'm a pensioner as well. the cost of living is _ this year. i'm a pensioner as well. the cost of living is going - this year. i'm a pensioner as well. the cost of living is going up - this year. i'm a pensioner as well. the cost of living is going up all i the cost of living is going up all the time — the cost of living is going up all the time. . ., the time. the rich are getting ficher the time. the rich are getting richer and _ the time. the rich are getting richer and the _ the time. the rich are getting richer and the poor _ the time. the rich are getting richer and the poor are - the time. the rich are gettingl richer and the poor are getting poorer~ — richer and the poor are getting poorer~ i've _ richer and the poor are getting poorer. i've never— richer and the poor are getting poorer. i've never known - richer and the poor are getting poorer. i've never known it- richer and the poor are getting poorer. i've never known it in. richer and the poor are getting . poorer. i've never known it in my lifetime — poorer. i've never known it in my lifetime. children _ poorer. i've never known it in my lifetime. children not— poorer. i've never known it in my lifetime. children not being - poorer. i've never known it in my lifetime. children not being able| poorer. i've never known it in my. lifetime. children not being able to eat. hie _ lifetime. children not being able to eat. ~ . .

lifetime. children not being able to eat. ~ ., ., , ., ., eat. we are all getting used now to rice eat. we are all getting used now to price shocks _ eat. we are all getting used now to price shocks like _ eat. we are all getting used now to price shocks like bread _ eat. we are all getting used now to price shocks like bread and - eat. we are all getting used now to price shocks like bread and cereals| price shocks like bread and cereals at 14.5%, meet up 1515.3% and milk, cheese and eggs up 24%. that hits hardest for the poorest families who spend a larger chunk of their incomes on food. in this cost of living crisis, those poor enough to collect universal credit had seen their incomes drop in real terms below pre—pandemic levels. food prices are surging, partly because supplies couldn't meet demand as the global economy recovered from the pandemic, especially after the war in ukraine disrupted the global supply of wheat and sunflower oil. and now, because devaluation means you now need more pounds to buy imported food, priced in dollars or euros. the uk now has worse inflation figures than any of the top seven advanced economies. most economies think inflation, the rise in the cost of living, hasn't yet hit its peak and that it will accelerate to around 11% in the coming months. but they are also

forecasting that after that, it should drop back, so the cost of living will still be much higher but it won't be rising quite as fast. but if the government doesn't keep subsidising energy bills beyond the next six months, that may not happen. next six months, that may not ha en. ~ . next six months, that may not ha . en, . ., ., happen. while we had thought it would then _ happen. while we had thought it would then start _ happen. while we had thought it would then start to _ happen. while we had thought it would then start to come - happen. while we had thought it would then start to come down | happen. while we had thought it. would then start to come down may happen. while we had thought it - would then start to come down may be in the middle of next year, now that we don't... now that energy prices might go back up again in april, it's possible you get another spike in inflation stays higherfor longer. in inflation stays higher for loner. , ., .,, ., longer. putin is now losing ground on another — longer. putin is now losing ground on another front _ longer. putin is now losing ground on another front of _ longer. putin is now losing ground on another front of his _ longer. putin is now losing ground on another front of his walk- longer. putin is now losing ground on another front of his walk his i on another front of his walk his attempt to weaponise gas prices. they have now fallen by a third since their peak. commodity traders now think there is an over supply which could bring wholesale prices down further. a dim light of hope perhaps, visible at the end of a long, dark inflationary tunnel. andy verity, bbc news. well, amid the economic chaos of recent weeks, in the last hour, liz truss has taken part in her first prime minister's questions since sacking her original

chancellor and replacing him withjeremy hunt — who drove a coach and horses through her economic plan. liz truss told mps that she and the chancellor remain "completely committed" to the triple lock on pensions — which sees them rise in line with inflation — despite downing street refusing to commit to it earlier in the week. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, asked "what's the point of a prime minister whose promises don't last a week?" from westminster, damian grammaticas reports. is this your last prime minister's questions? abs, is this your last prime minister's questions?— is this your last prime minister's questions? a little over a month into her premiership, _ questions? a little over a month into her premiership, she - questions? a little over a month into her premiership, she is - questions? a little over a month into her premiership, she is a i questions? a little over a month . into her premiership, she is a prime minister shorn of her authority to stop the programme liz truss promised has been stripped almost bare, so every appearance now is a test for her. abs, bare, so every appearance now is a test for her-— test for her. a book is being written about _ test for her. a book is being written about the _ test for her. a book is being written about the prime - test for her. a book is being - written about the prime minister's time in office. apparently it's going to be out by christmas. is that the release date or the title? laughter

i have been in office forjust under two months — i have been in office forjust under two months and i had delivered the energy— two months and i had delivered the energy price guarantee, making sure that people _ energy price guarantee, making sure that people are paying £6,000 bills this winter. i— this winter. i have reversed the national insurance _ i have reversed the national insurance increase and i've also taken _ insurance increase and i've also taken steps and we will be taking steps _ taken steps and we will be taking steps to — taken steps and we will be taking steps to crack down on the militant unions _ unions. being the but of opposition jokes can be toxic for a prime minister, so liz truss tried to turn the tables and asked the labour leader about strikes on the railways. mr speaker, she's asking me questions we are a government in waiting and they are an opposition in waiting. he waiting and they are an opposition in waitin.. ., ., . ~ in waiting. he attacked the government _ in waiting. he attacked the government for _ in waiting. he attacked the government for having - in waiting. he attacked the - government for having crashed the economy are now planning spending cuts. why on earth would anyone trust the tories with the economy ever again? i notice, mr speaker, he is not actually— i notice, mr speaker, he is not actually objecting to a single economic policy that the chancellor announced — economic policy that the chancellor announced on monday. he's refusing

to condemn — announced on monday. he's refusing to condemn the strikers. way on there _ to condemn the strikers. way on there are — to condemn the strikers. way on there are working people, we are going _ there are working people, we are going to — there are working people, we are going to legislate to legislate to make _ going to legislate to legislate to make sure we keep our railways open. they are _ make sure we keep our railways open. they are going to legislate to make sure we _ they are going to legislate to make sure we keep our railways open. gentteman— sure we keep our railways open. gentleman refuses to do anything. sir keir— gentleman refuses to do anything. sir keir starmerthen gentleman refuses to do anything. sir keir starmer then listed all the policies liz truss has been forced to junk. policies liz truss has been forced to “unk. , . . policies liz truss has been forced to “unk. , ., . ., policies liz truss has been forced to junk-— his i policies liz truss has been forced l to junk._ his own to junk. 45p are cut, gone. his own benches enjoyed — to junk. 45p are cut, gone. his own benches enjoyed that. _ to junk. 45p are cut, gone. his own benches enjoyed that. two - to junk. 45p are cut, gone. his own benches enjoyed that. two year - benches en'oyed that. two year ener: benches enjoyed that. two year energy freeze. _ benches enjoyed that. two year energy freeze, gone. _ benches enjoyed that. two year energy freeze, gone. tax-free l energy freeze, gone. tax—free shopping, gone. economic credibility, gone. and her supposed best friend, the former chancellor, he's gone as well. they are all gone, so why is she still here? mr speaker... mr- speaker... mr speaker, i speaker... mrspeaker, lam speaker... mr speaker, i am a fighter speaker... — mr speaker, i am a fighter and not a guitter~ _

i have acted in the national interest— i have acted in the national interest to make sure that we have economic— interest to make sure that we have economic stability.— interest to make sure that we have economic stability. prime minister. order. economic stability. prime minister. order- the — economic stability. prime minister. order. the speaker _ economic stability. prime minister. order. the speaker had _ economic stability. prime minister. order. the speaker had to - economic stability. prime minister. order. the speaker had to quieten| economic stability. prime minister. | order. the speaker had to quieten a noisy chamber _ order. the speaker had to quieten a noisy chamber but _ order. the speaker had to quieten a noisy chamber but the _ order. the speaker had to quieten a noisy chamber but the stability - order. the speaker had to quieten a noisy chamber but the stability of. noisy chamber but the stability of pensions worries many of us that yesterday, the prime minister's spokesperson couldn't say if they would keep it in line with inflation.— would keep it in line with inflation. ., , , inflation. the latest broken promise has ut inflation. the latest broken promise has put pensioners _ inflation. the latest broken promise has put pensioners in _ inflation. the latest broken promise has put pensioners in the _ inflation. the latest broken promise has put pensioners in the front - inflation. the latest broken promise has put pensioners in the front line| has put pensioners in the front line of tory— has put pensioners in the front line of tory cuts, — has put pensioners in the front line of tory cuts, so can the prime minister— of tory cuts, so can the prime minister perhaps turned to her chancellor right now, get permission to make _ chancellor right now, get permission to make another u—turn and commit to raising _ to make another u—turn and commit to raising the _ to make another u—turn and commit to raising the state pension at the rate of— raising the state pension at the rate of inflation?— raising the state pension at the rate of inflation? i rate of inflation? prime minister. i honestly don't _ rate of inflation? prime minister. i honestly don't know— rate of inflation? prime minister. i honestly don't know what - rate of inflation? prime minister. i honestly don't know what the - honestly don't know what the honourable gentleman is talking about because... we have been clear in our manifesto that we will maintain the triple lock and i am completely committed to it, so is the chancellor.

that liz truss would not give the same assurance that benefits will also go up in line with inflation. and the doubts about her swirling mean many in the opposition and her own party looking to capitalise on her weakness. damian grammaticas, bbc news. let's go live now to our chief political correspondent, nick eardley, at westminster. she is under a lot of pressure, well that performance have helped her? there are two ways this could have panned out. one was that something really bad happened for the prime minister at prime minister's questions and it hastened the need that conservative mps felt to get rid of her. i don't think that happened over the past hour. rid of her. i don't think that happene could ”kept—2st hour. rid of her. i don't think that happene could have rest hour. that of the mean of the mean that the

day day at the moment, i there day at the moment, i there will iay at the moment, i there will be at the moment, i there will be a : the moment, i there will be a bite moment, i there will be a bit of 1oment, i there will be a bit of a yment, i think there will be a bit of a sigh of relief at number 10 about how that went. we heard that there was a commitment now to raise pensions in line with inflation, but nothing on benefits? no, there wasn't. there is still no commitment to increase benefits by inflation just up the explanation we have had from number 10 in the last few minutes is that they think pensioners are unique and this is a lot to do with the fact that they are not in work. you will notice over the last few days that was a commitment to government would not make, the chancellor didn't say it. the foreign secretary didn't say it. number 10 didn't say it. well, there was a meeting between liz truss and the chancellor this morning where they decided they had to spell out their position for sub let's be clear about it, they probably wouldn't have got any different decision through parliament. there was a big conservative rebellion

brewing on this and ms truss hand was forced to clarify at pmqs. but it feels a bit like the government is trying to reassert some sort of control. there is a vote on fracking this afternoon, where labour would have taken over the commons agenda to try and force a binding vote on whether fracking should happen to try and force a binding vote on whetherfracking should happen in england. well, the government has just told conservative mps that it is a confidence issue, that they have to vote with the government or they would be saying they don't trust liz truss as prime minister. so a high—stakes gamble by the government in that sense, but what i think liz truss is trying to do is one, tell us all she a fighter. two, shows she has an agenda she wants to see through. the question some tory mps are still asking, what exactly is she for? thank you. as the weather gets colder and the cost of living increases, more people are turning to support groups to help them access food and heat. a survey carried out for the bbc shows that 85%

of those questioned said they were worried about the cost of living — up from 69% injanuary. our cost of living correspondent, coletta smith, has this report. round and round the garden like a teddy bear. one step, two steps, tickly under there! michelle has a spinal problem which means she and little lana lee live off her disability payments. it's got really bad. ever since the gas went up, i'm just constantly paying gas. i'm paying triple my gas this month to the month before. like, i've put £100 a week on and that is just far too much. like so many people, michelle is looking for ways to stretch her money. i'm buying cheaper mince, cheaper chicken. aldi's food, rather than going to asda. how do you feel about the prospect of having to spend less on lana lee? how do you feel about that as a parent at the moment?

it's heartbreaking. it's absolutely heartbreaking. because you want to give your child the world. she had to borrow money last week for the first time just to cover her energy bills. but now the government has said this week that bills could increase again in april. when you don't know the details, that's hard, isn't it? it's just, my anxiety goes through the roof with everything like that, you know. thinking about it. i'm going to have to try and just put it to the back of my mind until it happens. a few streets away at the pallion action group, they are helping people like michelle. we've had nearly 7000 through the doors this year, and everything is about the support that they can get. job clubs, help with benefits, and fitness groups. that's all on offer, along with something much more basic — heat. so we are open monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday from eight o'clock until four o'clock, as a warm space. so anybody can come in, they can have soup, a biscuit, popcorn. bev has popped in for a chat.

she cares for her 19—year—old dad, and having worked all her life, she is now on and off jobseeker�*s allowance between short—term job contracts. i had to sign on, and you felt like sort of humiliated, that is the only way i can describe it. personally it was like humiliation, every time you went in to sign on. itjust knocks your confidence. so are you just living on your overdraft? yes. waiting for your next payment. and then you borrow money, then you have to pay it back. the prime minister has not yet confirmed whether benefits will rise in line with inflation. but there is a clear message from here in pallion. she should live on it for a couple of months and see how she manages. it's another two days until bev�*s next payment will land. but she withdrew her last ten of her overdraft yesterday. coletta smith, bbc news, pallion.

our north of england correspondent fiona trottjoins me now. what are people saying to you here? some of the communities here are amongst the most deprived in england and were already struggling before the pandemic let alone the cost of living increases. so people are worried. there is help on the government says it is helping families in need we spoke to many charities here but the point is people did not used to talk about charity and would be ashamed to receive it but not any more. and working families are using charities, people who havejobs, working families making drastic changes to their lives. i spoke to some public sector workers, people who have their own business looking

for cheaper places to live or selling their car. you have seen regeneration going on in this city and it has had a lot of investment and it has had a lot of investment and employs around 6000 people here locally, this city is on the up but what the cost of living crisis shows is that in cities like sunderland even though you have a job people are worried about things that they used to take for granted whether thatis used to take for granted whether that is taking their children to the cinema orfilling up their shopping trolley. cinema or filling up their shopping trolle . , ' . cinema or filling up their shopping trolle. , m trolley. very difficult choices for eo - le. trolley. very difficult choices for people- thank _ trolley. very difficult choices for people. thank you _ trolley. very difficult choices for people. thank you very - trolley. very difficult choices for people. thank you very much. l you can find a personalised guide to saving money, that offers tips and advice tailored to your circumstances on the bbc news website at bbc.co.uk/news. that's it for now from sunderland, it's back to jane in the studio. our top story this lunchtime. as inflation hits more than 10% in september, the prime minister tells parliament the state pension will rise

in line with inflation. and still to come: crowds in iran welcome home the iranian athlete who didn't wear a headscarf while competing overseas. coming up on the bbc news channel. wales are hoping to end their 22 year rugby league world cup winless run later when they kick off their campaign against the cook islands. up to 45 babies might have survived, had they received better care at east kent nhs hospitals trust — that's one of the findings of a damning independent review. an independent panel looked at more than 200 cases at the trust between 2009 and 2020 — and found that the outcome could have been different in nearly half. it said the hospitals often provided care that was �*suboptimal�* and led to significant harm. dr bill kirkup, who led the inquiry,

said staff had failed to take notice of women when they raised concerns. our correspondent dan johnson has this report. i think they were negligent. we got to the _ i think they were negligent. we got to the point where we could say hang on, to the point where we could say hang on. the _ to the point where we could say hang on, the same thing has been going on and on _ on, the same thing has been going on and on and _ on, the same thing has been going on and on and on. this on, the same thing has been going on and on and on— and on and on. this was 'ust after he breast-fed * and on and on. this was 'ust after he breast-fed her. _ and on and on. this wasjust after he breast-fed her. when - and on and on. this wasjust after he breast-fed her. when daisy i and on and on. this wasjust after. he breast-fed her. when daisy was born in 2014 _ he breast-fed her. when daisy was born in 2014 her _ he breast-fed her. when daisy was born in 2014 her mother— he breast-fed her. when daisy was born in 2014 her mother says - he breast-fed her. when daisy was l born in 2014 her mother says doctors failed to spot she was suffering from pre—eclampsia. daisy only lived an hour and from pre—eclampsia. daisy only lived an hourand emma had no idea from pre—eclampsia. daisy only lived an hour and emma had no idea why her daughter died. brute an hour and emma had no idea why her daughter died-— daughter died. we met this lady and when she started _ daughter died. we met this lady and when she started to _ daughter died. we met this lady and when she started to go _ daughter died. we met this lady and when she started to go through - daughter died. we met this lady and when she started to go through the l when she started to go through the report she firstly started to say babies just die and thatjust happens. i cannot put it to bed because i do not have honest answers that i need. zoo

because i do not have honest answers that i need-— that i need. 200 families stuck to the inquiry _ that i need. 200 families stuck to the inquiry team _ that i need. 200 families stuck to the inquiry team and _ that i need. 200 families stuck to the inquiry team and many - that i need. 200 families stuck to the inquiry team and many felt i that i need. 200 families stuck to | the inquiry team and many felt the hospital trust did not properly investigate what went wrong. today those families finally got some answers. in a report which is absolutely damning of the state of maternity care going back more than a decade. i maternity care going back more than a decade. .., maternity care going back more than a decade. .. , ., , maternity care going back more than a decade. u, , ., , ., a decade. i can tell you there is a treat a decade. i can tell you there is a great deal _ a decade. i can tell you there is a great deal of _ a decade. i can tell you there is a great deal of emotion _ a decade. i can tell you there is a great deal of emotion and - great deal of emotion and substantial anger at what people had this morning. of the 202 births it examined, the panel concluded the outcome could been better in 97 cases had care been given to nationally recognised standards. of the 65 babies who died, it said 45 could have been saved. the panel found a pattern of recurring harm and failures of team working, professionalism, compassion and listening. and it said there were examples of downright dangerous practice. it is selves destroying, really disgusting. and really upsetting

that people can go about their daily lives in that profession knowing how many babies had to suffer. and they had not learned from my case or cases before me. we had not learned from my case or cases before me.— had not learned from my case or cases before me. we cannot go on treatin: cases before me. we cannot go on treating each _ cases before me. we cannot go on treating each individual _ cases before me. we cannot go on treating each individual service - treating each individual service failure — treating each individual service failure as— treating each individual service failure as if it is a one—off, an isolated — failure as if it is a one—off, an isolated failure. because experience has if that's what we do, it will pop up again somewhere else in the time to come. the report said the hospital trust seem to be covering up its failures and to date said it must learn from and to date said it must learn from and act on its findings to ensure that no more babies mothers suffer. dan johnson, bbc news. russia has started evacuating civilians from the occupied ukrainian city of kherson —

it's thought they may soon try to recapture the city. the general in charge of the russian invasion has admitted that his forces are facing a "difficult" situation — with ukrainian troops closing in. let's join our russia editor steve rosenberg in moscow. martial law in some areas, what is the significance? the martial law in some areas, what is the significance?— the significance? the details are still coming _ the significance? the details are still coming in _ the significance? the details are still coming in but _ the significance? the details are still coming in but vladimir - the significance? the details are | still coming in but vladimir putin was chairing a meeting of the powerful russian security council and announced there would be martial law in these ukrainian regions which he claims to have annexed. but also he claims to have annexed. but also he said all russian regional leaders and governors would get additional powers to maintain social order and safeguard critically important infrastructure. what that means is additional restrictions in many parts of the country. most restrictions in those russian

regions closer to the border with ukraine, in those parts of the country they will be restrictions on freedom of movement. and restrictions on entry into those regions and also just reading the decree, restrictions also in moscow on movement and the possibility of cars being searched as well. details as i say still coming in and we will know more later.— as i say still coming in and we will know more later. steve rosenberg, thank you- — an iranian athlete who came to international prominence after she competed in a climbing competition in south korea without wearing a headscarf has returned to tehran. a large crowd gathered at the city's airport to greet elnaz rekabi, calling her a "heroine". her appearance in a ponytail while competing was seen by many as a show of support for ongoing protests. filmed by state television on her arrival, ms rekabi repeated a previous instagram post saying

that not wearing the hijab had been unintentional. demonstrations have been continuing across iran since 22 —year—old mahsa amini died last month, after being arrested for violating dress code laws. rana rahimpour has been following this story. bring us up to date on her situation, the athlete at the centre of this and the wider picture. this of this and the wider picture. as ou of this and the wider picture. is you saw of this and the wider picture. ss you saw in of this and the wider picture. sis you saw in the video she was received as a hero with hundreds of people rushing to the airport in the middle of the night when she landed to greet her. and we had chanting saying elnaz rekabi is a hero. she gave an interview to state reporters which the bbc decided not to show because many believe it was taken under pressure and probably a forced confession in which she repeats what

she said on social media yesterday that she did not mean for it to happen, not wearing the hijab. she said she is ok for now, an important phase because clearly she is worried about what could happen next. in cricket, ireland produced a remarkable comeback to beat scotland at the t20 world cup in australia. scotland had looked on course for another victory, after their shock win against the west indies. but a brilliant innings from ireland's curtis campher turned the game. our sport correspondent andy swiss was watching. and you can hear the roar! a day for greatness in green. for ireland, the most dramatic of victories. and for their fans, well, just look what it meant. they knew defeat to scotland would all but end their world cup hopes. and those hopes soon seemed to be

vanishing over the horizon. michaeljones peppering first the grandstands, and then the surrounding houses. as scotland walloped their way to an impressive 176. a tough target for ireland soon looked near impossible, and as they lost four early wickets, the world cup exit beckoned. but then enter curtis campher, with quite stunning results. as he swung his bat, and with it the match, a blistering 72 off a mere 32 balls firing his team to a remarkable win. the result means both ireland and scotland can still qualify for the next stage, but no doubting this was their day. andy swiss, bbc news. let's return to sunderland, on the day that inflation figures show the cost of living went up 10.1% in the 12 months to september. my colleaguejoanna gosling is there. despite difficult financial times,

the city has become home to lots of new businesses in the past few years, and benefitted from investment in city centre and coastal redevelopment. an analysis of companies house and ons data by inform direct found 1587 new companies were formed in sunderland in 2021. the bbc�*s sunderland reporter andy watson has been to meet some of the city's entrepreneurs. for many people, sunderland is an attractive place to live. and importantly, for the local economy, somewhere to start a business. circa 1 million through the door in the 12 month period is pretty special. the stack at seaburn opened in 2020. it's become a hub for local businesses along the coast, despite difficult financial times. all costs have gone up, so utilities, packaging, food, labour. so it is a concern.

however, we're not seeing any drop—off in sales. ijust came up with the idea of the self—service baths. walk in service, you don't need an appointment, where owners can come off the beach and bath and dry their dog. it's really busy. seven days a week it's available throughout the year. this year we have seen a struggle that will come through it. people mostly come here for a bite to eat and a couple of drinks. butjust around the corner, a young entrepreneur has found her niche. yeah, it's brilliant... started out young when i was 19. yeah, over the moon that i came into the industry so young, because i feel having the client base that i have now, watching it grow over the last year and a half, it's something i'm really proud of. as someone who's been born and raised in sunderland, i'd heard that mackie's corner was the posh end of the town, but in recent years, it's been forgotten about and neglected. but now, it's back. an upmarket gentlemen's outfitters opened just last year. nice to meet you. hang your coat up there. oh, thank you, cheers. no bother at all.

how's things? very good. you know, that amazing brickwork, high ceilings, the fantastic curved windows, but again, just a real opportunity to get involved with the redevelopment of the city. i've got it in another colour as well? well, i'm 62 and this is the highest level of investment i've seen probably since the late 19605 and it's long overdue. so i think better times ahead. the city is also focusing on investing in the growth of the tech sector. at sunderland software city, they've helped launch more than 100 new businesses since 2020. i'm currently looking at a photo frame and butterflies are flying out of the frame... augmented and virtual reality tech has been adapted by start—ups here. it's like a rainbow here! i was reaching out for things that were not really there. we actually have a lot of young people come through our immersive lab that we have and part of this kit that you're wearing is used by young people to excite them, inspire them about careers

and pathways into stem and to kind of show them the possibilities of tech and stem jobs. so although experts predict an uncertain future, the view from the businesses we visited is that bright times are ahead. andy watson, bbc news, sunderland. these are difficult times and people are having to make difficult decisions with inflation now above 10% and income not keeping up with that. we've been hearing about some of the financial support available and very importantly about how appreciated the emotional support is. that is something we've been hearing about a lot in sunderland and it is very much a time for communities to pull together. we will have plenty of coverage throughout the day from sunderland but now let's catch up with the weather which is overcast and quite cool here. chris can give us the

whole picture.