Good Friday tradition alive in South Tyneside with planned parades

The Mayoress of South Tyneside, Patricia Porthouse and the Mayor, Councillor Richard Porthouse will attend an event next week.

Hundreds of people are expected to line the routes to see marching bands take to the streets.

In South Shields, there will be three Processions of Witness on Friday, organised by the Sunday School Union.

One parade will leave at 9.30am, collecting the Talbot Road Methodist Church procession in Westcott Road before progressing along Ashley Road and Stanhope Road to West Park for a service at 10am.

The second group will leave Marsden Road Baptist Tabernacle at 9.30am and make their way to Harton Infant School, in East Avenue, via Barbour Avenue, Felton Avenue and Centenary Avenue for a 10am service.

The South Shields march will meet at 9am at Laygate before making its way along Westoe Road, onto Fowler Street and Kepple Street, where they will be joined by marchers from The People’s Mission Church, who will arrive from Mile End Road. The parade will then continue to South Shields Market Place for a service at 10am.

A service will be held at Jarrow Shopping Centre at 10.30am followed by a service at Christ Church at 11am.

The Mayor and Mayoress, Coun Richard Porthouse and his wife Patricia, will be at the service at the Market Place before heading to the Weat Park, while the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Councillors Alan and Moira Smith, will be in Jarrow.

A number of road closures will be in place throughout the morning to accommodate the processions.

Drivers are being advised to follow the diversions.