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Monday, 1 January 2007, 07:51 GMT

Weather hampers New Year revelry

Fireworks in London Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party was among a string of events cancelled as bad weather hampered New Year's Eve celebrations across the UK.

A firework event in Newcastle was called off and one in Liverpool moved to 5 January, while in Belfast an outdoor concert was scrapped.

Glasgow's Hogmanay party was also cancelled due to the weather.

But in London around 350,000 revellers came out to watch a midnight fireworks display at the city's Eye attraction.

The Metropolitan Police - which had 3,200 officers on duty - said all viewing areas on the Thames were full. Fifty people were arrested.

Organisers of the annual London New Year's Day Parade due to take place later say it will go ahead.

"It's not really a great story for anyone"
BBC Weather Centre

Outdoor concert scrapped

Glasgow Hogmanay cancelled

Australian singer Kylie Minogue launched the British leg of her Showgirl Homecoming tour at Wembley Arena in London on New Year's Eve

Gusts of wind in excess of 70mph had been predicted in northern parts of the UK.

Power in around 8,000 homes in lowland Scotland was also affected by the poor weather.

About 100,000 people in Edinburgh had to be make alternative plans after the official celebrations were cancelled.

A concert headlined by the Pet Shop Boys and Paolo Nutini had been planned.

Pyrotechnic display

Glasgow's cancelled event, in the city's George Square, had been expected to attract 25,000 revellers.

Also in Scotland, a party in Stirling was cancelled.

Women struggle with umbrellas in Edinburgh

Belfast City Council said the decision to cancel its outdoor Rock the Hall concert, due to be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2, had been taken entirely because of safety reasons.

The Met Office had predicted gusts of up to 80mph in the city, a spokesman said.

The bands involved performed indoors without an audience.

Storms and high winds have caused accidents across the country this weekend.

On Saturday, Rebecca Smith, 18, died when a 60ft tree toppled in high winds on to a caravan in Cheadle, Staffordshire.

A house in Aghalee in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, was damaged on Saturday by what the Met Office believes was a tornado.

The New Year's Day parade in London begins at noon in Parliament Square and is expected to attract more than 400,000 spectators.

Event spokesman Dan Kirkby said: "We are here and we are going to have great fun."

DJ Fatboy Slim will host a New Year's Day party on Brighton beach.


If you have any photos or video of wild and windy weather, or of your New Year's celebrations, you can send them to:

yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 07725 100 100.




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Related to this story:
Kylie gears up for New Year gig (31 Dec 06 |  Entertainment )
Country braced for stormy weather (29 Dec 06 |  Scotland )
Stormy weather to batter Britain (29 Dec 06 |  UK )
City's New Year fireworks shelved (29 Dec 06 |  Merseyside )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Liverpool City Council
Edinburgh's Hogmanay
Kylie Minogue website
BBC Weather Centre
London Parade
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