IT will be a red and white Christmas in the football-crazy city of Sunderland.
Fifty thousand light bulbs in the colours of Peter Reid's Premiership team were switched-on last night as the festive shopping season officially got under way.
The switch-on was done by former EastEnders star Craig Fairbrass, who plays the evil Duke of Northumberland in Sunderland Empire Theatre's pantomime Sleeping Beauty.
He was assisted by fellow panto star Tracey Coleman, from Granada TV's Men and Motors.
The grand switch-on was followed by spectacular firework display. Revellers were entertained by the Sun FM radio station's roadshow.
The city's Christmas tree was formally handed over by Norwegian Vice-Consul Lisbeth Kelly as traditional Norwegian dance was performed by the Kathleen Davis Dancers.
With the £40m extension to the Bridges shopping centre open, and the Nice One Sunderland advertising campaign in full swing, city officials are hoping that thousands of present hunters will head to Sunderland for their shopping.
Other events lined-up for the pre-Christmas rush on Thursday late shopping nights include a Christmas parade and Tina Turner tribute performance at Park Lane on Thursday.
On November 30, there will be a celebrity charity night to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief and Sunderland Royal Hospital.
On December 7, there will be a Victorian evening featuring Dickensian street scenes and a market
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