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A quarter of a million people lined the banks of the Thames last night as the chimes of Big Ben rang in the New Year in the capital. |
Thousands of revellers 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 descended on a section of the crowd.
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”.
Around 50,000 people took part in what was dubbed the “world’s first multi-sensory fireworks display”, poking their tongues out to catch the flavours designed to match the colours on show.
Bubbles of orange-scented smoke and apple and cherry mist were released into the air as the 11-minute firework salvo lit up the London Eye observation wheel.
“Amazing! It was phenomenal. It was really tasty with all those flavours coming in,” one reveller, Samantha from Peterborough in eastern England, told Sky News television.
The past year in Britain saw the death of 1980s prime minister Margaret Thatcher but also the birth of a new royal heir in Prince George and the first Wimbledon men’s singles tennis champion since 1936 in Andy Murray.
“Watched by millions around the world, and hundreds of thousands of people from the banks of the Thames, it highlights our capital’s fantastic community spirit and its premier position on the global stage,” said Johnson
Up to 100,000 people in key viewing areas by the River Thames got packs featuring scratch and sniff programmes, LED wristbands and seven kinds of fruit-flavoured sweets that linked to the show.
The wind and rain intensified shortly before midnight but it did not put off the predicted 250,000-strong crowd which waited for hours along the riverbanks to take in the event.
Cheers drifted across the city as the Houses of Parliament’s Big Ben bell chimed out the final seconds of 2013, before an estimated 12,000 fireworks sent 50,000 projectiles into the rainy night sky.
The festivities created an estimated 85 tonnes of waste, including up to 15,000 champagne bottles, in central London.
Westminster council deployed 52 vehicles and 119 members of staff through the night to ensure the streets were cleared for the capital’s New Year’s Day parade at midday.
Nearly 100 people were arrested as an estimated quarter of a million people lined the banks of the River Thames as the chimes of Big Ben rang in the New Year in the capital. Elsewhere revellers committed a litany of typical night-out offences.
The Metropolitan Police said this morning officers arrested 39 people for drunk and disorderly behaviour, 21 for assault, 16 for affray, six for drug-related offences, six for public-order offences and four others.
The force had 3,800 officers on duty for fireworks alone, while London Ambulance Service received 1,100 calls between 7pm and midnight, and 469 in the first hour of 2014.
Chief Inspector Robyn Williams said: “Visitors were not put off by the threat of wind and rain and the viewing areas filled up quicker than ever before.
“Officers worked hard, alongside stewards, to keep people safe during the event and ensure that everyone who came into central London was able to make their way home at the end of the night.
“Crowds were good natured and there were no major issues reported to police.”
Events attracted party-goers across the country with 80,000 descending on Edinburgh for its famous Hogmanay street party and firework displays in Cardiff and Belfast.
Around half a million people are expected to attend the annual pageant, 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.