AMERICAN pop diva "Tina Turner" was the star of the show last night as Sunderland's Christmas Parade brought cheer to the city's streets.

Thousands of people turned up to see Tina, also known as US tribute artist Jacqui Virgil, who was the main attraction at the event.

She was joined on stage, in Park Lane, by 21-year-old mother Debbie Jones, of South Hylton, in Sunderland, to provide a spectacular finale to the event.

Debbie, appearing as Icelandic singer Bjork, won her place in the pageant after impressin judges of the city's own Stars In Your Eyes competition.

The procession included Teletubbies and Pokemon who travelled on the Toyland Train.

Father Christmas took time off to make an early appearance on Wearside, and jugglers, fire-eaters, and stilt-walkers were part of the fun, as the parade wound its way through the city centre