Hundreds turned out to see Aberdeen’s Castlegate being transformed into a winter wonderland last night with the annual lighting of the city’s Christmas tree.
The Norwegian fir was again given as a gift from Aberdeen’s twin city of Stavanger, continuing a years-long tradition.
Along with the 35-foot-tall tree, the Scandinavian city also sent its largest-ever delegation on the 312-mile trip to the north-east.
Among them was Bjorg Tysdal Moe, the deputy mayor of Stavanger, who switched on the tree’s lights with Lord Provost Barney Crockett.
Before that, carols were sung with the backing of the Salvation Army brass band, and schoolchildren from the Big Noise Torry project performed a number of Christmas songs.
Choir leader Rhoda Welsh said: “The kids really loved it – they had the biggest smiles on their faces I’ve ever seen.”
The lord provost added: “It was a fantastic evening, and it gets better every year.”
