New York's Christmas tree lights up Rockefeller Center

The lighting of the Christmas tree at New York's Rockefeller Center has taken place watched by a crowd of tens of thousands of people.

Sheryl Crow was one of the artists who performed for the crowd.

The 74-foot (22.5m) Norway spruce was donated by firefighter Peter Acton and his wife Stephanie, of Mahopac, New York state.

Mr Acton, a firefighter and rescue worker on 11 September 2001, said providing the tree was his way of saying thank you to the city of New York.