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| New Year's freeze for revellers | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Forecasters have warned temperatures will fall below zero in many places across the UK as revellers welcome the new year. | Forecasters have warned temperatures will fall below zero in many places across the UK as revellers welcome the new year. |
| The 100,000 party-goers in Edinburgh will need more than good cheer to keep warm with lows of minus 2C-3C. | |
| In London 400,000 people are expected to attend a fireworks display, while Elton John is playing at the O2 Arena. | In London 400,000 people are expected to attend a fireworks display, while Elton John is playing at the O2 Arena. |
| A range of New Year events have been planned for Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham among others. | A range of New Year events have been planned for Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham among others. |
| Sub-zero temperatures are also forecast for northern England and Wales, while many other areas could also see the mercury plunge. | Sub-zero temperatures are also forecast for northern England and Wales, while many other areas could also see the mercury plunge. |
| But revellers going to fireworks displays might not get a clear view, with mist and freezing fog forecast in some areas. | But revellers going to fireworks displays might not get a clear view, with mist and freezing fog forecast in some areas. |
| Flight delays | Flight delays |
| Claire Austin, forecaster with MeteoGroup UK, said: "It is going to be quite cold in most places but the good news is that it is staying dry and winds are going to be generally light." | Claire Austin, forecaster with MeteoGroup UK, said: "It is going to be quite cold in most places but the good news is that it is staying dry and winds are going to be generally light." |
| But there is unlikely to be any let up in the cold weather for the first day of 2009. | But there is unlikely to be any let up in the cold weather for the first day of 2009. |
| Ms Austin added: "There will be some mist and cloud around in the morning. | Ms Austin added: "There will be some mist and cloud around in the morning. |
| EVENTS AROUND THE UK London - Fireworks at the London EyeManchester - Fireworks in Exchange SquareBirmingham - Fireworks in Centenary SquareCardiff - Ex-X Factor hopeful Andy Abraham at the Civic Centre What are your new year plans? | EVENTS AROUND THE UK London - Fireworks at the London EyeManchester - Fireworks in Exchange SquareBirmingham - Fireworks in Centenary SquareCardiff - Ex-X Factor hopeful Andy Abraham at the Civic Centre What are your new year plans? |
| "Central and eastern areas will see lots of cloud but western regions, such as Western Scotland and Wales will see the best of the bright sunny weather. | "Central and eastern areas will see lots of cloud but western regions, such as Western Scotland and Wales will see the best of the bright sunny weather. |
| "It will be a little bit milder in the east but still temperatures are unlikely to get above 4-5C anywhere. | "It will be a little bit milder in the east but still temperatures are unlikely to get above 4-5C anywhere. |
| "It is still looking like it is going to stay pretty cold over the next couple of days with weekend temperatures of around 2-3C and minus figures overnight." | "It is still looking like it is going to stay pretty cold over the next couple of days with weekend temperatures of around 2-3C and minus figures overnight." |
| Inflatable tent | Inflatable tent |
| Meanwhile, Britons travelling to and from Geneva have suffered delays and cancellations after the airport runway was closed due to snow for several hours on Tuesday. | Meanwhile, Britons travelling to and from Geneva have suffered delays and cancellations after the airport runway was closed due to snow for several hours on Tuesday. |
| Easyjet said four of its flights - from Geneva to Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh and Newcastle - had been cancelled, and a further 26 UK connections delayed. | Easyjet said four of its flights - from Geneva to Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh and Newcastle - had been cancelled, and a further 26 UK connections delayed. |
| Although the runway has reopened there are knock-on delays of up to seven hours. Easyjet advised people travelling to and from Geneva to check flight details at easyjet.com or call 0871 244 2366. | Although the runway has reopened there are knock-on delays of up to seven hours. Easyjet advised people travelling to and from Geneva to check flight details at easyjet.com or call 0871 244 2366. |
| The party in Edinburgh - the self-styled Hogmanay capital - has been under way for a number of days already to build up to the bringing in of the new year. | The party in Edinburgh - the self-styled Hogmanay capital - has been under way for a number of days already to build up to the bringing in of the new year. |
| Extreme lows have been forecast for the Scottish Highlands, with parts estimated to plummet to as cold as -15C. | Extreme lows have been forecast for the Scottish Highlands, with parts estimated to plummet to as cold as -15C. |
| In Cardiff revellers will be able to sleep off their partying in an inflatable tent staffed by medics at the Millennium Stadium. | In Cardiff revellers will be able to sleep off their partying in an inflatable tent staffed by medics at the Millennium Stadium. |
| The sleepover centre has been converted from an emergency chemical decontamination tent. | The sleepover centre has been converted from an emergency chemical decontamination tent. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI'm going to have a bath, a glass of port and go to bed before the poor TV programmes startPhil, LiverpoolSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYI'm going to have a bath, a glass of port and go to bed before the poor TV programmes startPhil, LiverpoolSend us your comments |
| And in London police are gearing up for one of the busiest nights of the year. | And in London police are gearing up for one of the busiest nights of the year. |
| The Met's Supt Brian Pearce urged people to plan their night in advance and to take extra care after consuming alcohol. | The Met's Supt Brian Pearce urged people to plan their night in advance and to take extra care after consuming alcohol. |
| He added: "Hundreds of thousands of people used to travel to central London when there was nothing for them to see or do. | He added: "Hundreds of thousands of people used to travel to central London when there was nothing for them to see or do. |
| "Now with such a world-class fireworks display being staged the centre of town is more popular than ever before. | "Now with such a world-class fireworks display being staged the centre of town is more popular than ever before. |
| "Sadly, not everyone sets out just for a fun night out. | "Sadly, not everyone sets out just for a fun night out. |
| "There are those criminals who will use the cover of crowds to commit crime, so help yourself by keeping a close eye on all your belongings." | "There are those criminals who will use the cover of crowds to commit crime, so help yourself by keeping a close eye on all your belongings." |
| Tube services will be running all night, but the authorities have warned people may need to queue to get into stations because the demand will be high. | Tube services will be running all night, but the authorities have warned people may need to queue to get into stations because the demand will be high. |
| And on Thursday more than 400,000 people are expected to head into London for the New Year's Day Parade. | And on Thursday more than 400,000 people are expected to head into London for the New Year's Day Parade. |
| Organisers said the traditional spectacle aimed to breathe fresh air into London by helping visitors beat the credit crunch and start the year healthily. | Organisers said the traditional spectacle aimed to breathe fresh air into London by helping visitors beat the credit crunch and start the year healthily. |