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UK prepares for New Year parties Bad weather hits New Year parties
(about 3 hours later)
People around the UK are preparing to usher in the New Year with private parties and public celebrations, despite warnings of rain and gales. Bad weather has forced the cancellation of some New Year celebrations, as revellers across the country prepare for a wet and windy start to 2007.
In London there will be lighting and projections on the South Bank followed by a pyrotechnic and lighting display at midnight at the London Eye. A firework display in Liverpool has been moved to 5 January, while an outdoor concert in Belfast has been scrapped because of high winds.
In Edinburgh a Hogmanay party will be headlined by the Pet Shop Boys. Northern parts of the UK are facing the worst of the weather, with gusts of up to 80mph predicted.
Revellers face blustery weather conditions, particularly across the north of the county. But despite weather warnings, many UK celebrations are expected to go ahead.
According to the BBC Weather Centre, the UK will be hit by wind and rain on Sunday night with the gales being especially fierce in Northern Ireland and southern Scotland, with gusts of up to 80mph predicted. 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 bands involved will now perform indoors without an audience.
Other planned New Year events still set to go ahead include a Hogmanay party in Edinburgh, which will be headlined by the Pet Shop Boys.
And in London there will be lighting and projections on the South Bank followed by a pyrotechnic and lighting display at midnight at the London Eye.
According to the BBC Weather Centre, the UK will be lashed by wind and rain on Sunday night, with gales being especially fierce in Northern Ireland and southern Scotland.
Storm damageStorm damage
On Saturday an 18-year-old woman died when a 60ft tree toppled in high winds on to a caravan in Cheadle, Staffordshire.On Saturday an 18-year-old woman died when a 60ft tree toppled in high winds on to a caravan in Cheadle, Staffordshire.
In Suffolk, part of the roof was blown off the newly-opened Days Inn in Haverhill during a storm on Saturday night.In Suffolk, part of the roof was blown off the newly-opened Days Inn in Haverhill during a storm on Saturday night.
Andrew Holmes, director of development for Edinburgh City Council, said: "There are no plans to cancel any of the planned Hogmanay events in the city. Andrew Holmes, director of development for Edinburgh City Council, said there were no plans to cancel any planned Hogmanay events in the city.
"Indeed, 15,000 people braved the weather Friday night to take part in the first of our Hogmanay events, the Torchlight Procession. "Indeed, 15,000 people braved the weather Friday night to take part in the first of our Hogmanay events, the Torchlight Procession," he said.
"Current weather information suggests that the conditions were as severe as Edinburgh may experience over the period and this gives us great confidence for the night of Hogmanay.""Current weather information suggests that the conditions were as severe as Edinburgh may experience over the period and this gives us great confidence for the night of Hogmanay."
Nationwide partyingNationwide partying
Elsewhere, more than 25,000 revellers also expected in Glasgow. Elsewhere, more than 25,000 revellers expected to see in the new year in Glasgow.
Birmingham and Newcastle are also holding mass celebrations, and a beach party is being held with DJ Fatboy Slim on Brighton beach, but Liverpool has cancelled its firework display because of the weather warnings. Birmingham and Newcastle are also holding mass celebrations, while DJ Fatboy Slim is to host a New Year's Day party on Brighton beach.
These have now been rescheduled for 5 January. Australian singer Kylie Minogue will launch the British leg of her Showgirl Homecoming tour at Wembley Arena in London on New Year's Eve, in what she has promised will be "the biggest party of all".
Australian singer Kylie Minogue launches the British leg of her Showgirl Homecoming tour at Wembley Arena in London on New Year's Eve, in what she has promised will be "the biggest party of all".
The concert begins at 2000 GMT, finishing as the clock strikes midnight.The concert begins at 2000 GMT, finishing as the clock strikes midnight.
If you have any photos or video of wild and windy weather, or of your New Year's celebrations, you can send them to: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.yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 07725 100 100.