SUNDERLAND FC ace Niall Quinn had his shooting boots on yesterday to kick off his adopted city's biggest-ever marketing campaign.

The giant Dubliner launched the £100,000 publicity drive that is designed to boost local pride and focus attention on the city's changing fortunes, as well as take Sunderland to the top of the league for shopping, leisure, business and tourism.

The city council's "Nice One Sunderland" campaign will hit the region through TV, radio and press advertising and will feature the lanky centre forward and Sunderland people of all ages.

Quinn said: "Sunderland is a fresh, forward-thinking city with vast potential and a great deal to be proud of."

He added: "The Nice One Sunderland campaign could pave the way to radical changes in the way the city is perceived.