Life in Sunderland has been condemned in an opinion poll - on its own city council's website.

More than half the voters so far labelled the city "not a pleasant place to live".

Shoppers yesterday said the city was overshadowed for shopping, tourism and nightlife by Newcastle.

But council bosses pointed to a poll that praised Sunderland and they suspected the online results had been affected by repeat voting.

The poll, on until the end of the month, asks if people think Sunder-land is a pleasant place to live, OK or not pleasant. Last night, from about 350 votes cast, 42pc said the city was "not a pleasant place" and almost 12pc asked: "Where is Sunderland?"

Tourism chiefs pointed to the National Glass Centre, Winter Gardens and annual air show as attractions.

But opinion was divided on city streets. Della Doig, 21, of Hollycar-side, who works for British Telecom, said: "The social life's not too bad, there's enough to do but that's only because I'm over 18. But Newcastle still beats Sunderland in the clubbing department. Erin Elliot, 24, of Hendon, said: "It isn't as good as Newcastle. It could do with some better shops. There's not that much to look at and I think visitors would be disappointed."

But market worker Tracy Joyce, 40, said: "There's more and more shops opening. And the nightlife's brilliant - there's too many pubs to get round on a Saturday night."

Salesman Darron Walton, 23, of Fox Street, Eden Vale, said: "When I first came here it wasn't particularly good, but it has improved in the past four years. There's not a great deal for tourists - who's interested in glass?"

A council spokesman said: "Mori, for example, in a recent survey found that 76pc of Sunderland residents were very happy with the area as a place to live."

A One NorthEast spokesman said: "Sunderland has recently been high-lighted in a report as one of the best places in the UK in which to conduct business … one of the most charit-able cities in the UK and also one of the most IT-intelligent places in the world."

* a pleasant place to live 25.2 per cent

* An OK place to live 20.1pc

* Not a pleasant place to live 42.9pc

* Where is Sunderland?