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| Revellers preparing for New Year | Revellers preparing for New Year |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Millions of people across the UK are preparing to usher in the New Year. | |
| Crowds of at least 350,000 people are expected in London, with many lining up at the River Thames for the firework display at the London Eye. | Crowds of at least 350,000 people are expected in London, with many lining up at the River Thames for the firework display at the London Eye. |
| In Scotland about 50,000 revellers are expected at Edinburgh's street party with 15,000 in Glasgow's George Square. | In Scotland about 50,000 revellers are expected at Edinburgh's street party with 15,000 in Glasgow's George Square. |
| In Wales, some 30,000 revellers are heading for the Calennig celebrations at Cardiff Castle, and 5,500 are set to attend an open air concern in Belfast. | |
| London Mayor Ken Livingstone said the annual New Year's Eve fireworks display at the London Eye was thanks to the hard work of many of the capital's authorities. | London Mayor Ken Livingstone said the annual New Year's Eve fireworks display at the London Eye was thanks to the hard work of many of the capital's authorities. |
| He said: "London's New Year's Eve fireworks display is world famous and the capital one of the best places in the world to be during the festive season. | He said: "London's New Year's Eve fireworks display is world famous and the capital one of the best places in the world to be during the festive season. |
| "Its success is down to the many organisations, including police, transport and local authorities, that come together to provide a stunning backdrop to the capital's celebrations." | "Its success is down to the many organisations, including police, transport and local authorities, that come together to provide a stunning backdrop to the capital's celebrations." |
| Metropolitan Police Superintendent Andy Tarrant said plans for London's New Year events had been going on for almost 12 months. | Metropolitan Police Superintendent Andy Tarrant said plans for London's New Year events had been going on for almost 12 months. |
| "We have got in excess of 3,600 police officers on duty to make the evening as safe and crime-free as possible," he said. | "We have got in excess of 3,600 police officers on duty to make the evening as safe and crime-free as possible," he said. |
| "We deal with a range of different offences, ranging from drunkenness to theft. | "We deal with a range of different offences, ranging from drunkenness to theft. |
| "If people do turn up intent on committing a crime, our message to them is that they will be arrested and dealt with appropriately." | "If people do turn up intent on committing a crime, our message to them is that they will be arrested and dealt with appropriately." |
| Newcastle is another city which is having a firework display, at Foreshore Park. | Newcastle is another city which is having a firework display, at Foreshore Park. |
| They're the habitual drinking land of those who are the far end of a drinking problem Tony Goodall, Leeds Primary Care Trust Hogmanay singer cancels | They're the habitual drinking land of those who are the far end of a drinking problem Tony Goodall, Leeds Primary Care Trust Hogmanay singer cancels |
| Bristol is holding a New Year's Eve Gala at Colston Hall, which is hosting an evening with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. | Bristol is holding a New Year's Eve Gala at Colston Hall, which is hosting an evening with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. |
| There is a free event at the Anglican cathedral in Liverpool, where the Love and Joy Gospel Choir will be singing. | There is a free event at the Anglican cathedral in Liverpool, where the Love and Joy Gospel Choir will be singing. |
| More than 5,500 people are expected to attend an open air New Year's Eve concert in Belfast, with Ocean Colour Scene topping the bill at the city's Custom House Square. | More than 5,500 people are expected to attend an open air New Year's Eve concert in Belfast, with Ocean Colour Scene topping the bill at the city's Custom House Square. |
| Travel difficulties | Travel difficulties |
| But thousands of rail passengers travelling for New Year are facing further delays after overrunning engineering work was extended by another day. | But thousands of rail passengers travelling for New Year are facing further delays after overrunning engineering work was extended by another day. |
| The work affects Virgin Trains to and from the West Midlands, Scotland, north Wales and north-west England, with as many as 60,000 travellers expected to use the line on Monday. | The work affects Virgin Trains to and from the West Midlands, Scotland, north Wales and north-west England, with as many as 60,000 travellers expected to use the line on Monday. |
| Services will now not return to normal until 0530 GMT on 2 January. | Services will now not return to normal until 0530 GMT on 2 January. |
| Meanwhile, the government has urged New Year's Eve revellers to avoid harm by drinking responsibly. | Meanwhile, the government has urged New Year's Eve revellers to avoid harm by drinking responsibly. |
| The warning comes as new rules mean firms will no longer put labels on drinks which use phrases such as "slammers" or "shooters" to stop people downing them in one go. | The warning comes as new rules mean firms will no longer put labels on drinks which use phrases such as "slammers" or "shooters" to stop people downing them in one go. |
| Tony Goodall, the head of alcohol strategy at Leeds Primary Care Trust, said another area for concern was with high-strength white ciders. | Tony Goodall, the head of alcohol strategy at Leeds Primary Care Trust, said another area for concern was with high-strength white ciders. |
| "You get them at about 8% strength. | "You get them at about 8% strength. |
| "They're the habitual drinking land of those who are the far end of a drinking problem and also of kids, because they know that they can get smashed very, very quickly and very, very cheaply." | "They're the habitual drinking land of those who are the far end of a drinking problem and also of kids, because they know that they can get smashed very, very quickly and very, very cheaply." |