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Sunderland could be set to follow up its derby day victory by taking Europe's largest funfair from Newcastle.

The Chronicle revealed yesterday how the Hoppings will probably never return to Newcastle, putting an end to 130 years of Tyneside tradition.

It has now emerged that Sunderland City Council has been approached by some showmen about staging an event in Wearside, with Wearside’s Herrington Country Park being a potential venue.

The council’s portfolio holder for public health, wellness and culture, Coun John Kelly, said yesterday the council was in talks with showmen, but no decisions have yet been made.

He said: “The Showmen’s Guild has approached Sunderland City Council to discuss the possibility of staging a fair in our city.

“We are doing everything we can to help and negotiations continue, but nothing has been finalised at this stage.”

The week-long Hoppings fair has been held each June on Newcastle’s Town Moor for more than a century. But its future in Newcastle is in doubt after a bitter row between showmen and the Freemen of Newcastle, which took on the organisation of the event in 2012, broke out over rent and pitch terms.

The dispute hit boiling point earlier this year when members of the Showmen’s Guild voted unanimously for the event to be “out of order”.

The move means no members can bring their rides or stalls to the Town Moor without incurring a huge fine.

Both groups have spoken of their disappointment. David Wilson, vice chairman of the Freemen of Newcastle, denied that the Hoppings was moving to Sunderland.

He said: “Our reaction is that the Hoppings is not going to Sunderland. The Hoppings has been cancelled so all that is being set up is a fair.

“I am sure there will be a number of fairs set up and I’m sure there will be one closer to Newcastle.”

No-one from the Showmen’s Guild was available for comment yesterday.