Report on Hogmanay party call-off

Covers were blown off stands at the main music stage in Edinburgh

A report explaining why Edinburgh's world-renowned Hogmanay street party had to be cancelled at the last moment is being given to councillors.

Almost 100,000 people were due to attend the event but it was called off as winds gusted at up to 90mph.

The decision not to go ahead was "unanimous", according to the report.

The event organisers said the primary factor was the impact of the worsening weather conditions on the safety of the public, staff and performers.

Despite earlier insisting that the party would go ahead, the plug was pulled by Edinburgh organisers at 2030 GMT on Hogmanay, hours after other locations had cancelled.

The report said that reaction to the call-off had generally been understanding, because the conditions were so obvious.

It said the highest wind speed recorded in the area of the street party on the night was 92 mph.

Concluding his report, Andrew Holmes, Edinburgh's director of city development, said there was no indoor alternative offering a Plan B solution.

He added that moving the party inside would lead to it losing its vital sense of place.