Christmas arrives in New York as 75-foot Rockefeller Center tree illuminated in grand ceremony

Thousands of revellers turned out in New York to witness the annual lighting of the famous Rockefeller Christmas tree.

The 75-foot tree decorated with multi-coloured LED lights is an iconic part of festivities in the American city.

But this year’s 85th event threatened to be overshadowed when the TV presenter set to the co-host proceedings was sacked for “inappropriate sexual behaviour”.

Matt Lauer, 59, has hosted a morning show on NBC for two decades but was dismissed by the network after being accused of sexual misconduct against a colleague.

The illuminating of the tree still went ahead without Mr Lauer, with New York’s Democrat mayor Bill de Blasio flicking the switch just before 9pm.

The ceremony, outside the Rockefeller Center building in Manhattan, was televised by NBC and included live performances by Brett Eldredge, Leslie Odom Jr, Pentatonix, Train, Harry Connick Jr, and the Radio City Rockettes.

There were extra security measures following the October 31 terror attack in which a man drove a truck onto a bike path near the World Trade Center, killing eight people.

The festive tradition started in 1931. This year's tree came from State College, Pennsylvania. After the holidays, it will be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity.

London's iconic Christmas tree - sent from Norway each year as a gift - is set to be illuminated in Trafalgar Square on December 6.