Record Numbers brave the torrential weather to see in the New Year in London

London braves the storm while other cities cancel all New Years Eve celebrations.

Article by Karen Williams

Monday 1st January 2007, 00:29

London has seen people turn out in record numbers tonight to celebrate the New Year in spite of gale force winds and driving rain.

More than 1,000,000 People made it into the capital determined to celebrate the party of the year and ignore weather warnings by the met office and advice to stay indoors. Police were forced to issue warnings at 11pm to say that Victoria Embankment was full from Golden Jubilee bridge to waterloo bridge but still people kept arriving in high numbers.

The London Eye fireworks went ahead in spite of rumours that they would be cancelled due to bad weather but onlookers say that they were not as spectacular as in previous years as they had been scaled back due to the bad weather.

Ken Livingstone who attended the London Eye fireworks said “We are amazed at the numbers who have braved the weather tonight, it shows that Londoners can really pull together when it matters and people are prepared to brave all kinds of weather to see in the New Year.”

The met office said that winds of more than 70MPH will ease after midnight but will remain gusty and showers will be plentiful. Temperatures will drop to as low as 4°C - with more rain forecast over the next 48 hours.

Other people in cities across the UK weren’t so fortunate and thousands were left disappointed after outdoor New Year celebrations in Glasgow, Belfast, Newcastle and Liverpool were cancelled.

A city centre concert in Belfast City was also called off due to safety fears after high winds were forecast. Up to 10,000 people had been expected outside City Hall to see stars including Tony Christie, soul singer Beverley Knight and rock band The Thrills.

Glasgow's Hogmanay was also cancelled this afternoon. Around 25,000 revelers were expected to attend the New Year celebrations in George Square in the city to dance and to watch a spectacular fireworks display.

A Fireworks extravaganza in Newcastle was also cancelled and fireworks planned for Liverpool's St George's Plateau were called off and the event will now take place on Friday, January 5.

But organisers of the world-famous Hogmanay street party in Edinburgh vowed that the event would go ahead despite the weather but in the end the event was cancelled at the last minute. Thousands were left feeling very angry because of the late call off at 8.30 pm. A news conference was promised in an attempt to pacify thousands of people.

More than 100,000 people were expected to watch a huge fireworks display and see pop acts the Pet Shop Boys and Paolo Nutini perform at the outdoor celebration.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay party was cancelled three years ago because of stormy weather, leaving tens of thousands of people disappointed.

The severe weather is continuing to sweep the country tonight and forecasters said storms would keep battering Britain through the next two days.

Organisers of London's New Year's Day Parade said the event would definitely go ahead.

Tomorrow's free family event of marching bands, clowns, vintage cars, traction engines and carnival queens make their way through the city from Parliament Square where 400,000 people are expected.

Comments
Be THE first to comment on this article.
Post Comment Title Comment Name Email