diff --git a/e107_handlers/news_class.php b/e107_handlers/news_class.php
index 94d9c2a29..19419220d 100644
--- a/e107_handlers/news_class.php
+++ b/e107_handlers/news_class.php
@@ -712,7 +712,15 @@ class e_news_tree extends e_front_tree_model
 
 		if(!empty($items))
 		{
-			$start = $parser->parseTemplate($template['start'], true, $vars); // must be here in case {SETIMAGE} is present and used for items below.
+
+			foreach ($items as $news)
+			{
+				$d = $news->toArray();
+				$batch->setScVar('news_item',$d); // set news category.
+				break;
+			}
+
+			$start = $parser->parseTemplate($template['start'], true,$batch,$vars); // must be here in case {SETIMAGE} is present and used for items below.
 		}