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London New Year fireworks: Crowds gather New year celebrations: Crowds gather in London and across UK
(about 3 hours later)
Crowds have started to gather in central London for the first ticketed New Year's Eve fireworks display. Thousands of people have gathered in central London to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks display - as celebrations are held across the UK.
Some 100,000 people are expected to watch along the River Thames. Some 100,000 revellers are expected to line the River Thames for the capital's first ticketed new year's display.
A crew of more than 300 will set the fireworks off and about 85 organisations have been involved in planning the spectacle. Huge crowds have also taken to the streets in Edinburgh and across Scotland for Hogmanay celebrations.
The display includes 12,000 fireworks producing 50,000 projectiles to be fired from 5,500 cues. Celebrations have already taken place across Asia and Europe, with firework displays in a host of major cities.
Each ticket was priced at £10, which covered the costs of running the ticketing scheme. No profit was being made, the mayor's office said. In London, a crew of more than 300 will set 12,000 fireworks off as part of the annual display.
An estimated 500,000 people tried to see the display last year but many were turned away for safety reasons. It is the first time the event has been ticketed, with revellers paying £10 to cover the costs of running the display.
Road closures from Oxford Street, Elephant and Castle, Vauxhall Bridge and Southwark Bridge began from 14:00 GMT on Wednesday, with most closures in place from 20:00. It comes after an estimated 500,000 people tried to see the display last year, when many had to be turned away for safety reasons.
There will also be some bridge closures, while some central Tube stations will become exit only. Edinburgh is expected to host an estimated 75,000 people at its Hogmanay street party and fireworks display.
Those who do not have a ticket have been urged by the police to avoid central London. Events are also being held in Aberdeen, Inverness, Stirling and Stonehaven, while a warm-up party has been taking place in Glasgow.
This year, Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square will not have large viewing screens. However, Hogmanay celebrations on Stirling Castle's esplanade had to be cancelled owing to high winds.
London Ambulance Service has prepared itself for the busiest night of the year.
At peak times last year it took more than 600 calls an hour when normally it would only take about 250.
The service is running three alcohol recovery centres and five so called "booze buses" across London to look after people who have had too much to drink.