Memorial events for Covid-19 victims 5 years on

Susie Crozier-Flintham said her dad Howard Crozier was a lovely, kind man

Events are being held across the North East and Cumbria as part of a government-backed day of reflection to mark five years since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

One of the biggest is being held at Sunderland Minster, organised by Susie Crozier-Flintham and Deborah Doyle, who both lost a parent to the disease.

Mrs Crozier-Flintham's father Howard Crozier died on 28 March 2020 and only two people were allowed at his "very bleak" funeral.

"That's why it's so important for me we have this moment when we can come together as a community and acknowledge this thing that happened to all of us," she said.

"Dad went into hospital for something else, was on the mend and then on the 22 March I went to see him and was told I couldn't because there was a Covid patient on the ward.

"Next thing I was told he was in end-of-life care, I could only see him for 10 minutes at a time and he died completely alone."

There will be reflection and prayers at Carlisle United's Memorial Garden on Sunday

But the organisers said the event was not only for those who lost a loved one during the pandemic.

"We all went through an enormous thing, everyone was affected, so I just wanted there to be something in Sunderland that was a day for people of all faiths and none, Mrs Crozier-Flintham said.

The event starts at 12:00 GMT with a number of activities, and a ceremony led by Sunderland Interfaith Forum begins at 15:00.

Carlisle United is also holding reflection and prayers at its memorial garden on Sunday, with Forestry England encouraging people to head to its woodlands at Hamsterley, in County Durham, and Grizedale and Winlatten, in Cumbria, for a few moments of reflection.

Gateshead Millennium Bridge will be lit yellow on the same day, with an event at Saltwell Towers from 10:30 "to remember those who died during the pandemic and to thank those who sacrificed so much to help others".