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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| New Year revellers brave the cold | New Year revellers brave the cold |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Millions of revellers around the UK have braved freezing temperatures to welcome in 2009. | Millions of revellers around the UK have braved freezing temperatures to welcome in 2009. |
| In London, crowds started lining the banks of the River Thames hours in advance of the fireworks display. | In London, crowds started lining the banks of the River Thames hours in advance of the fireworks display. |
| They were played a series of video messages, from the likes of London Mayor Boris Johnson, actress Dame Helen Mirren and Homer Simpson. | They were played a series of video messages, from the likes of London Mayor Boris Johnson, actress Dame Helen Mirren and Homer Simpson. |
| Some 100,000 partygoers in Edinburgh watched fireworks and listened to live bands in sub-zero temperatures. | |
| A range of New Year events also took place in Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham. | A range of New Year events also took place in Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham. |
| Thermos picnic | Thermos picnic |
| About 400,000 people are believed to have gathered in London for the fireworks, while Elton John played at the O2 Arena. | About 400,000 people are believed to have gathered in London for the fireworks, while Elton John played at the O2 Arena. |
| Supt Brian Pearce, of the Metropolitan Police, said the revellers appeared to have heeded warnings to arrive early to get a good view of the show. | Supt Brian Pearce, of the Metropolitan Police, said the revellers appeared to have heeded warnings to arrive early to get a good view of the show. |
| EVENTS AROUND THE UK London - Fireworks at the London EyeEdinburgh - Hogmanay street partyManchester - 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 EyeEdinburgh - Hogmanay street partyManchester - Fireworks in Exchange SquareBirmingham - Fireworks in Centenary SquareCardiff - Ex-X Factor hopeful Andy Abraham at the Civic Centre What are your new year plans? |
| He said: "The viewing areas started to fill up at about six o'clock this evening." | |
| By 0200 GMT 42 people have been arrested in London as part of Scotland Yard's New Year's Eve operation. | |
| Last year, as of 0400 GMT, more than 70 people had been arrested, the majority for public order offences or for being drunk and disorderly. | |
| However, in the first hour after midnight this year the London Ambulance Service took fewer calls than last year. | |
| A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "Between midnight and 0100 we took 292 calls, compared with 377 in first hour of New Year's Day last year." | |
| Partygoers waiting for the stroke of midnight in London were entertained by giant projections and light shows on the walls of the city's landmark buildings. | |
| Many came equipped with wine glasses, thermos flasks and picnics. | Many came equipped with wine glasses, thermos flasks and picnics. |
| The Hudson family, who had travelled from Nottingham for the event, sported flashing bunny ears. | The Hudson family, who had travelled from Nottingham for the event, sported flashing bunny ears. |
| Nurse Corinne Hudson, 47, explained that the family had planned the trip on New Year's Day last year when she was undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. | Nurse Corinne Hudson, 47, explained that the family had planned the trip on New Year's Day last year when she was undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. |
| She said: "My hair started falling out on New Year's Eve last year. So we spent last year crying. | She said: "My hair started falling out on New Year's Eve last year. So we spent last year crying. |
| "Watching it on the television everybody seemed to be having a good time here whilst we just weren't. So that's why we're here tonight to put that behind us and move on." | "Watching it on the television everybody seemed to be having a good time here whilst we just weren't. So that's why we're here tonight to put that behind us and move on." |
| 'Insane Londoners' | 'Insane Londoners' |
| The crowd were played a series of video messages, beginning with an address from London Mayor Boris Johnson, in which he urged the city to "go forward with enthusiasm" into 2009. | The crowd were played a series of video messages, beginning with an address from London Mayor Boris Johnson, in which he urged the city to "go forward with enthusiasm" into 2009. |
| Actress Helen Mirren told the crowd that despite the fact she was on the other side of the world, her heart was with "insane Londoners". | Actress Helen Mirren told the crowd that despite the fact she was on the other side of the world, her heart was with "insane Londoners". |
| "And you've got to be insane, because I bet it's freezing," she said. | "And you've got to be insane, because I bet it's freezing," she said. |
| Veteran actor Michael Caine said he would normally wish for a "prosperous" New Year. | Veteran actor Michael Caine said he would normally wish for a "prosperous" New Year. |
| Partygoers started arriving early to get prime spots along the River Thames | Partygoers started arriving early to get prime spots along the River Thames |
| But instead he said: "This year I think what we really need is luck, so good luck everybody." | But instead he said: "This year I think what we really need is luck, so good luck everybody." |
| The party in Edinburgh - the self-styled Hogmanay capital - has been under way for a number of days. | The party in Edinburgh - the self-styled Hogmanay capital - has been under way for a number of days. |
| Events included fireworks around Edinburgh Castle, live bands and a huge singalong of Auld Lang Syne, which organisers hope will break a world record. | Events included fireworks around Edinburgh Castle, live bands and a huge singalong of Auld Lang Syne, which organisers hope will break a world record. |
| 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. |
| Persistent cold | Persistent cold |
| Sub-zero temperatures were forecast for northern England and Wales, while many other areas could also see the mercury plunge. | Sub-zero temperatures were forecast for northern England and Wales, while many other areas could also see the mercury plunge. |
| BBC weather forecaster Rob McElwee said the coldest weather would be in north-west England and England-Wales border areas, with temperatures dropping as low as minus 7C. | BBC weather forecaster Rob McElwee said the coldest weather would be in north-west England and England-Wales border areas, with temperatures dropping as low as minus 7C. |
| Belfast would see temperatures on New Year's Eve of minus 2C, London around zero, and Cardiff just below zero, he added. | Belfast would see temperatures on New Year's Eve of minus 2C, London around zero, and Cardiff just below zero, he added. |
| There is unlikely to be any let up in the cold weather for the first days of 2009. | There is unlikely to be any let up in the cold weather for the first days of 2009. |
| On New Year's Day cold temperatures and lots of fog are set to persist, with thickening fog over north-west England and the West Midlands. | On New Year's Day cold temperatures and lots of fog are set to persist, with thickening fog over north-west England and the West Midlands. |
| A little sunshine may break through in western Scotland, Wales and southern England. Spots of rain and snow may fall in north-east England and eastern Scotland, with a possibility of black ice. | A little sunshine may break through in western Scotland, Wales and southern England. Spots of rain and snow may fall in north-east England and eastern Scotland, with a possibility of black ice. |
| By 2 January more sunshine is expected, but the cold weather will remain for the foreseeable future. | By 2 January more sunshine is expected, but the cold weather will remain for the foreseeable future. |