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| Parade and party welcome in 2007 | Parade and party welcome in 2007 |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people have been attending a parade in London and a music beach party Brighton as the UK continues its New Year celebrations. | Thousands of people have been attending a parade in London and a music beach party Brighton as the UK continues its New Year celebrations. |
| Organisers said about 550,000 people attended London's annual New Year's Day parade, featuring an estimated 10,000 performers from a variety of nations. | Organisers said about 550,000 people attended London's annual New Year's Day parade, featuring an estimated 10,000 performers from a variety of nations. |
| And 20,000 music fans are attending DJ Fatboy Slim's Brighton beach party. | And 20,000 music fans are attending DJ Fatboy Slim's Brighton beach party. |
| On New Year's Eve, strong winds and heavy rain caused the cancellation of official events in a number of cities. | On New Year's Eve, strong winds and heavy rain caused the cancellation of official events in a number of cities. |
| Among those affected were Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Liverpool and Newcastle. | Among those affected were Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Liverpool and Newcastle. |
| The New Year's Day parade in London, involving marching bands and carnival queens, began in Parliament Square at noon and continued for two miles to Piccadilly. | The New Year's Day parade in London, involving marching bands and carnival queens, began in Parliament Square at noon and continued for two miles to Piccadilly. |
| Motorbikes from the Goldwing Owners Club of Britain led the event. | Motorbikes from the Goldwing Owners Club of Britain led the event. |
| They were followed by the Fort Myers High School Marching Band, who had to fight a travel ban by Florida education chiefs imposed because of fears about safety in London following the 7 July attacks in 2005. | They were followed by the Fort Myers High School Marching Band, who had to fight a travel ban by Florida education chiefs imposed because of fears about safety in London following the 7 July attacks in 2005. |
| A lot of places took a battering but the strong winds have now moved off BBC Weather Centre href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6222135.stm" class="">In pictures: Celebrations | |
| Following the decision by parents to veto the ban, the 117-strong band raised $500,000 (£260,000) to make the journey. | Following the decision by parents to veto the ban, the 117-strong band raised $500,000 (£260,000) to make the journey. |
| Russian dancers, riders on penny-farthing cycles, miniature steam engines and a Hindu Scottish pipe band were among the other performers. | Russian dancers, riders on penny-farthing cycles, miniature steam engines and a Hindu Scottish pipe band were among the other performers. |
| In Brighton, thousands are attending Fatboy Slim's beach party, Big Beach Boutique 3. | In Brighton, thousands are attending Fatboy Slim's beach party, Big Beach Boutique 3. |
| Only those who have a Brighton postcode have been able to buy the £30 tickets. | Only those who have a Brighton postcode have been able to buy the £30 tickets. |
| Ahead of the event, the DJ said: "There's nothing better than playing in your home town with a beautiful beach." | |
| He added: "There's been a lot of planning. We don't want anyone to get hurt, we don't want anyone to get cold." | |
| Public safety fears were raised the last time the Hove-based DJ, also known as Norman Cook, held a gig on Brighton beach, in July 2002. | Public safety fears were raised the last time the Hove-based DJ, also known as Norman Cook, held a gig on Brighton beach, in July 2002. |
| The party attracted 250,000 people instead of the anticipated 60,000, leaving the emergency services struggling to cope. | The party attracted 250,000 people instead of the anticipated 60,000, leaving the emergency services struggling to cope. |
| Lifeboat rescue | Lifeboat rescue |
| A woman fell to her death from railings and more than 30 people were injured at the event, at which a lifeboat had to pluck revellers from the sea. | A woman fell to her death from railings and more than 30 people were injured at the event, at which a lifeboat had to pluck revellers from the sea. |
| The events on London and Brighton are going ahead after a night of severe weather across the country which saw a number of New Year's Eve shows called off. | The events on London and Brighton are going ahead after a night of severe weather across the country which saw a number of New Year's Eve shows called off. |
| Hogmanay events in Edinburgh and Glasgow were among those affected, as were firework displays in Newcastle and Liverpool and a concert in Belfast. | Hogmanay events in Edinburgh and Glasgow were among those affected, as were firework displays in Newcastle and Liverpool and a concert in Belfast. |
| But around 350,000 revellers saw a midnight firework display light up the skies above the London Eye attraction. | But around 350,000 revellers saw a midnight firework display light up the skies above the London Eye attraction. |
| The London event went ahead despite poor weather overnight | |
| Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "There was atrocious weather around the country last night and we wish to send our best wishes and goodwill to those who saw their New Year's Eve disrupted." | Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "There was atrocious weather around the country last night and we wish to send our best wishes and goodwill to those who saw their New Year's Eve disrupted." |
| The Metropolitan Police - which had 3,200 officers on duty - said all viewing areas on the Thames were full. | The Metropolitan Police - which had 3,200 officers on duty - said all viewing areas on the Thames were full. |
| Ninety-nine people were arrested, mainly for public order offences and drunkenness, police said. | Ninety-nine people were arrested, mainly for public order offences and drunkenness, police said. |
| Between midnight and 0400 GMT, the London Ambulance Service said it dealt with 1,562 calls, up 8% on the same period last year, with the majority related to alcohol. | Between midnight and 0400 GMT, the London Ambulance Service said it dealt with 1,562 calls, up 8% on the same period last year, with the majority related to alcohol. |
| A spokesman said it was the highest number of calls for a New Year's Eve it had received since the Millennium. | A spokesman said it was the highest number of calls for a New Year's Eve it had received since the Millennium. |
| The BBC Weather Centre said high winds had now moved away from the UK and were not expected to return. | The BBC Weather Centre said high winds had now moved away from the UK and were not expected to return. |
| A spokesman said: "A lot of places took a battering but the strong winds have now moved off." | A spokesman said: "A lot of places took a battering but the strong winds have now moved off." |
| 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. |