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Crowds celebrate New Year across UK amid high security New Year fireworks declare 'London is open'
(about 1 hour later)
Crowds have celebrated the start of 2017 at events across the UK, under tightened security following the lorry attacks in Berlin and Nice. The UK has marked the start of 2017 with a spectacular firework display and a declaration that "London is open".
Around 110,000 tickets were sold for the annual fireworks display along the River Thames in London. Tens of thousands gathered on the banks of the Thames to watch the display immediately after Big Ben sounded its midnight chimes.
Celebrations also took place at popular city locations across the UK, including the mass Hogmanay events in Edinburgh, under a more visible police presence. New Year events across the UK went ahead under tight security, following lorry attacks in Berlin and Nice.
Security has been stepped up following terror attacks in Europe. The music accompanying the London fireworks featured a recording of mayor Sadiq Khan saying: "London is open."
Other celebrations also took place at popular city locations, including the mass Hogmanay events in Edinburgh, but everywhere there was a more visible police presence with security fears to the fore following a series of terror attacks around Europe in the past year.
News of the latest, an attack which killed at least 35 revellers at a nightclub in the Turkish capital Istanbul, emerged in the final hour of 2016.
Remembering Bowie
In London, around 12,000 fireworks producing 50,000 projectiles lit up the city as part of a 12-minute display.In London, around 12,000 fireworks producing 50,000 projectiles lit up the city as part of a 12-minute display.
As part of the display, London mayor Sadiq Khan's voice was mixed into music accompanying fireworks around the London Eye, with him booming out: "London is open." Music for the display also sampled famous artists who died in 2016, including David Bowie and George Michael.
Earlier, Mr Khan said the display would be the "best fireworks London's ever seen" and will pay tribute to artists who have died in the past year. Mr Khan said before the fireworks that their theme would be "hope and optimism going forward".
He added: "We are going to make sure that we have fireworks where the theme is hope and optimism going forward, but they're going to be brilliant." He added the capital was also sending a message to the world that "London is open", particularly post-Brexit, as part of its New Year's Eve celebrations.
Mr Khan said the capital was also sending a message to the world that "London is open", particularly post-Brexit, as part of its New Year's Eve celebrations. He added: "We've always been a city open to talent, to people, to ideas and that is not going to change."
He added: "We've always been a city open to talent, to people, to ideas and that is not going to change.
"One of the great things about the New Year's Eve fireworks is that it showcases our great, great city."
Singer Robbie Williams staged a live concert from the Central Hall Westminster in London, which was shown on BBC One as part of the New Year celebrations.Singer Robbie Williams staged a live concert from the Central Hall Westminster in London, which was shown on BBC One as part of the New Year celebrations.
After taking a brief break to allow people to take in the Big Ben chimes, Williams returned to the stage to the strains of Auld Lang Syne and restarted his show with his most famous hit Angels, before belting out a version of the traditional New Year favourite New York, New York. After taking a brief break to allow TV viewers and his live audience to take in the Big Ben chimes, Williams returned to the stage to the strains of Auld Lang Syne.
He then wound the clock back as he performed his debut single Freedom. Initially released in 1996 after Williams left Take That, it was a cover version of the 1990 hit written and released by George Michael who died on Christmas Day. He then restarted his show with his most famous hit Angels, before belting out a version of the traditional New Year favourite New York, New York.
After that, he wound the clock back as he performed his debut single Freedom. Initially released in 1996 after Williams left Take That, it was a cover version of the 1990 hit written and released by George Michael who died on Christmas Day.
As he started the song, he told the audience: "This is dedicated to the legendary George Michael."As he started the song, he told the audience: "This is dedicated to the legendary George Michael."
Security has been stepped up across the capital, which will see more armed officers being deployed and concrete barriers in use. Across the capital security had been stepped up, with more armed officers being deployed and concrete barriers in use.
There are also more places where vehicles are banned. There were also more places where vehicles are banned.
Greater Manchester Police has also increased crowd protection in the wake of the Berlin attack. Greater Manchester Police also increased crowd protection in the wake of the Berlin attack.
British Transport Police has "extended" its regular armed patrols across the nation's rail network and there are armed officers on the London Underground. British Transport Police "extended" its regular armed patrols across the nation's rail network and there were armed officers on the London Underground.
Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Phil Langworthy said 3,000 officers would patrol the streets in London. Metropolitan Police Det Supt Phil Langworthy said 3,000 officers would be patrolling the streets in London.
He added: "We will also have some covert tactics. Around 75,000 people had been expected to attend Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party for its sold-out New Year's Eve celebration.
"Overtly there'll be a search regime in place at the fireworks, we will also have concrete barriers and a range of other tactics to reassure the public that they can come and have a safe and enjoyable event." Police Scotland said there was a "very visible police presence" at the event.
Around 75,000 people were expected to attend Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party for its sold-out New Year's Eve celebration. Edinburgh was treated to a total of four separate firework displays to mark Hogmanay.
Police Scotland said there would be a "very visible police presence" at the event. The Police Federation had made special arrangements to temporarily ban vehicle access in certain parts of London because of the use of lorries as terrorist weapons in this year's attacks in Nice and Berlin.
Divisional commander Chief Superintendent Kenny MacDonald said: "I'm confident we have an appropriate and proportionate policing plan in place to make sure we deliver a safe and secure event." Two weeks ago a lorry, driven by Anis Amri, ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48.
Four firework displays have already taken place tonight, including the Midnight Moment display from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street Gardens and Calton Hill.
The Police Federation confirmed that there would be more areas in London where vehicles will be banned as a result of the recent attacks in Nice and Berlin.
On 20 December a lorry, driven by Anis Amri, ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48.
In Nice in July, 86 people died during Bastille Day celebrations when a lorry drove into crowds on the Promenade des Anglais.In Nice in July, 86 people died during Bastille Day celebrations when a lorry drove into crowds on the Promenade des Anglais.