Millions of people across the UK celebrated the start of 2014 with spectacular fireworks displays, music and parties
Tens of thousands of people lined the banks of the River Thames as the chimes of Big Ben rang in the new year in the capital, while an estimated 80,000 descended on Edinburgh for its famous Hogmanay street party.
Fireworks events also took place in Cardiff and Belfast, while Londonderry marked its final few hours as the UK City of Culture in 2013 with a cathedral service.
Some 50,000 revellers in London braved the threat of rain to enjoy what was billed as “the world’s first multi-sensory fireworks display”, when peach snow and orange-scented bubbles descend on a section of the crowd.
Partygoers queued for hours to get a prime spot near the London Eye, where an enormous fireworks display lit up the skyline.
Up to 100,000 are thought to have enjoyed the display, during which people were given LED wristbands and fruit-flavoured sweets that linked to the tastes and smells of the multi-sensory display to bring something different to the new year festivities.
After watching the fireworks, revellers joined in a traditional rendition of Auld Lang Syne.
London mayor Boris Johnson said there was “no better way to celebrate the highs of 2013 and the start of an exciting new year” than enjoying one of the world’s most dazzling fireworks displays“.
The Metropolitan Police said it had 3,800 officers on duty for the event, while London Ambulance Service received 1,100 calls between 7pm and midnight, and 469 in the first hour of 2014.
Travel on buses, the Tube, trams, Docklands Light Railway and the London Overground is free until 4.30am.
In Edinburgh, thousands of people counted down the last moments of 2013 before fireworks over Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill marked the start of the new year.
The Pet Shop Boys headlined a concert in Princes Street Gardens, while there was also a Keilidh playing traditional Scottish music.
Today around half a million people are expected to attend the annual New Year’s Day Parade in London, which could be hit by rain and strong winds.
The celebration parade will feature music from around the globe, leaving the Ritz Hotel at noon and winding through Piccadilly, Pall Mall and Trafalgar Square before ending in Parliament Square.
