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City councillors in Sunderland are calling for funding to expand the Metro “as a matter of priority".

They are to write to the Secretary of State for Transport asking for support to expand the service to Hendon, Grangetown and Ryhope.

Sunderland City Council said it also supported the re-opening of the as well as extending the Metro to Washington.

Councillors said they hoped the expansion would be funded by the Network North programme, from £36bn saved by scrapping the Northern leg of HS2.

The drive to find funding was raised by Liberal Democrat Councillors, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A motion was passed at a full council meeting, when it was agreed that expanding the Metro across Sunderland was “of equal importance to re-opening the Leamside Line in developing our vibrant city”.

Liberal Democrat councillor Ciaran Morrissey, who represents Hendon, said: “If we can set out our business case beforehand, say specifically yes we want investment in our our city and that is specifically what we want, we stand a better chance of getting that done."

Meanwhile Labour’s Michael Mordey, who also represents the Hendon ward, said the local authority had long supported transport ambitions but "had not been backed with government support."

“All they have to do is give us the share of our funding, we have the plans, we have the ambition, give us the tools and the funding we need," he added.