I had some quality times there as a kid. I actually used to live more west than that (Rowlands Gill) so not sure why we went there generally but it was always interesting. For those who are trying to work out what Dunston is like, it's where Gazza was from (and his mates who used to make the papers) and they're a good example of the kind of people I'd see. As
@Saff says it's not exactly affluent but they'd give you the shirt off their backs if you're decent with them then drink you under the table.
Always had a good footy team when i was growing up - though Gazza no longer played for them then. I turned out a couple of times for Snods Edge but a)
I used to get smashed off the pitch as I was fast but light-weight and b)
I used to play rugby and cricket instead mainly
and was probably better at them.