With the cash helping to finance a film production village in the Whitby Street and Lynn Street area, Mr Sunak toured the nearby Northern School of Art and Northern TV and Film Studios on Thursday, January 19, to admire its new facilities. Here are pictures from his visit as well as flashbacks to appearances in town by his predecessors.
9. Photography studio
The Prime Minister was also shown around the photography studio during his visit. Photo: Scott Heppell, PA
10. Hartlepool visit
Hartlepool has been awarded £16.5m of Government Levelling Up money to regenerate the Church Street area. Photo: Scott Heppell, PA
11. Town visit
It was Rishi Sunak's first visit to Hartlepool since he became Prime Minister. Photo: Scott Heppell, PA
12. Blue arm-y
Mr Sunak's last-but-one predecessor Boris Johnson visited Hartlepool both during and after Jill Mortimer's successful campaign to become Hartlepool's MP at the 2021 Parliamentary by-election. Photo: Stu Norton