Fireworks light up the sky as the UK sees in 2024

Britons flocked to New Year’s Eve celebration at cities across the country depite gale-force winds and heavy showers.

Depite weather warnings being issued by the Met Office, crowds were out in force to watch spectacular pyrotechnics light up the sky.

In London, the country’s biggest display took place over the River Thames, which was attended by 100,000 people, as millions watched the BBC’s coverage at home.

At the stroke of midnight Big Ben’s bongs rang out as 12,000 fireworks fired into the sky from the London Eye, as mesmerised crowds looked on.

Manchester hosted its New Year’s Eve firework display for the first time since the Covid pandemic forced the annual celebrations to be postponed.

Crowds packed into Castlefield Bowl music venue to watch a live DJ set from Hits Radio DJ Jordan Lee, which was followed by a huge firework display to bring in the New Year.

In the Scottish capital Ediburgh, tens of thousands were mesmerised by the Hogmany firework displays at Edinburgh Castle.

Thousands of people also partied into 2014 at the Princes Garden Street Party and Concert in the Gardens, which was headlined by Pulp, who have not played in the city in 20 years.

Ahead of the celebrations, two yellow weather alerts were issued by the Met Office for parts of England and Wales, which warned severe gales would bring heavy showers.

Elsewhere an impressive firework show took place Blackpool, which illuminated its iconic Blackpool Tower illuminated

In Newcastle’s Quayside crowds BAFTA award-winning artist Seb Lee-Delisle’s new Laser Light City laser show was emblazoned onto the Baltic Flour Mills.

Some events were cancelled because of the blustery conditions, including Plymouth’s Winter Wonderland in Central Park, which cancelled its events which were meant to run from 6pm until midnight, due to high winds.

In a Facebook post, it said: “Unfortunately we have taken the very difficult decision to cancel our New Year’s Eve event due to the high winds expected.”

Barnstaple in Devon cancelled its fireworks display due to “gusting winds”.

The first country to celebrate 2024 was Pacific island nation of Kiribati which celebrated at 10am GMT.

It was followed soon after by New Zealand’s capital, Auckland, who put on an impressive fireworks display, at its tallest building, the Sky Tower was emblazoned with ifferent colours.

Sydney’s famous pryotechnics lit up the sky over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Landmarks in countries across Europe were also lit up by displays, including the Acropolis in Athens, Greece and Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.