NORWEGIAN students have helped prepare Sunderland's Christmas tree - their homeland's traditional gift - to mark Britain's fight against Nazism.

Norway has provided a tree for festive celebrations snce 1947, as a thank-you for the support Britain gave while Norway was occupied by German forces from 1940.

Ninety-nine students, who are studying at the city's university, have been invited to join their country's vice-consul, Lisbeth Kelly, in handing over the tree at the lights switch-on on tomorrow.

Some of the youngsters have helped council workers fit lights to the tree.

City marketing manager Julie Elliott said: "Receiving a Christmas tree from Norway is a custom we are very proud of, and every year we are grateful for this festive gift."

The university's director of international education, Neil Maynard, said: "From the 1950s through to the 1970s we boasted the largest population of Norwegian students outside of Norway, with the majority studying on our naval architecture course.

"Unfortunately, when the shipyards closed the number of students reduced dramatically. However, in recent years we have seen the number of Norwegian students rise steadily.