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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| England welcomes in the New Year | England welcomes in the New Year |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of revellers have braved cold weather to see in the New Year at events across England. | Thousands of revellers have braved cold weather to see in the New Year at events across England. |
| The largest celebrations have been taking place in London, where crowds lined the banks of the Thames for the city's annual fireworks display. | The largest celebrations have been taking place in London, where crowds lined the banks of the Thames for the city's annual fireworks display. |
| Firework displays also started 2009 in Manchester, the city's first major firework event since the millennium, and in Birmingham. | Firework displays also started 2009 in Manchester, the city's first major firework event since the millennium, and in Birmingham. |
| Temperatures are expected to fall below freezing in many places across England. | Temperatures are expected to fall below freezing in many places across England. |
| Up to half a million people were thought to be at the firework display in central London, with the night one of the busiest of the year for the Metropolitan Police. | Up to half a million people were thought to be at the firework display in central London, with the night one of the busiest of the year for the Metropolitan Police. |
| Free Tubes | Free Tubes |
| Superintendent Brian Pearce said viewing areas near the London Eye started to fill up at about 1800 GMT and were closed by 2300 GMT as they were full. | Superintendent Brian Pearce said viewing areas near the London Eye started to fill up at about 1800 GMT and were closed by 2300 GMT as they were full. |
| He said: "People seem to have listened to advice to plan ahead and arrive in good time. | He said: "People seem to have listened to advice to plan ahead and arrive in good time. |
| "We've only had 10 arrests in total across central London and they were mainly for drunkenness. It's very good when you consider the number of people in central London tonight."Many people crowded into Whitehall to watch the firework display | |
| He said there could be a repeat of scenes last year when revellers had to queue for up to three hours to get on to Tube trains home. | He said there could be a repeat of scenes last year when revellers had to queue for up to three hours to get on to Tube trains home. |
| Tubes will run until 0430 GMT and travel home is free but Transport for London has warned several stations will be exit-only around midnight, including Charing Cross, Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Westminster. | Tubes will run until 0430 GMT and travel home is free but Transport for London has warned several stations will be exit-only around midnight, including Charing Cross, Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Westminster. |
| Extensive road closures have also been put in place. | Extensive road closures have also been put in place. |
| Extra police have been deployed in popular gathering spots, including Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, where police were on raised viewing platforms to oversee festivities. | Extra police have been deployed in popular gathering spots, including Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, where police were on raised viewing platforms to oversee festivities. |
| The 10-minute fireworks display began after midnight was sounded by the chimes of Big Ben. | The 10-minute fireworks display began after midnight was sounded by the chimes of Big Ben. |
| Earlier, the crowds were played a series of video messages from celebrities including London mayor Boris Johnson, actors Michael Caine and Helen Mirren, comedian Ricky Gervais and cartoon characters Homer and Marge Simpson. | Earlier, the crowds were played a series of video messages from celebrities including London mayor Boris Johnson, actors Michael Caine and Helen Mirren, comedian Ricky Gervais and cartoon characters Homer and Marge Simpson. |
| Manchester's display was also set to last for 10 minutes, with the fireworks set off from the top of the Arndale Centre and organisers saying they would be best viewed from Exchange Square. | Manchester's display was also set to last for 10 minutes, with the fireworks set off from the top of the Arndale Centre and organisers saying they would be best viewed from Exchange Square. |
| In Birmingham, the firework celebrations were centred around Centenary Square. | In Birmingham, the firework celebrations were centred around Centenary Square. |
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| London welcomes 2009 with a spectacular fireworks show over the River Thames. |