Back with a bang

EDINBURGH blasted itself back to the heart of worldwide New Year celebrations last night as up to 100,000 revellers toasted the arrival of 2008.

The year was only one second old but a £1.3 million pyrotechnic glare left no doubt that the capital had rekindled its world-famous Hogmanay spark. Despite damp weather, the joyous atmosphere in Princes Street was a sharp contrast to 12 months earlier, when gale-force winds saw the street party scrapped at the last minute.

The cancellation was the second in just four years – and left thousands of revellers disappointed.

Kesabian frontman Tom Meighey, draped in a Saltire, Hogmanay night. Picture: Neil Hanna

But it was a different story last night as eight tons of fireworks lit up the skies over the capital at the stroke of midnight. Although Leon Jackson, the Scots-born X Factor winner, was a no-show due to tonsilitis, indie rockers Kasabian wowed the crowd. The band was joined on stage in Princes Street Gardens by Noel Gallagher, the Oasis guitarist and songwriter. While organisers last night refused to release official figures on ticket sales, the street party again proved a draw for people from around the world.

Chris Darlington, 24, and Tim Twyford, 25, from Jindabyne, Australia, were not disappointed. "We've been travelling, so the world was pretty much our oyster as far as where we spent the New Year," Mr Darlington said.

"But we'd heard that Edinburgh was the place to be, so we decided to come here. We've spoken to some of the locals, who said it's not quite as popular as it used to be, but it's been great – a really good atmosphere."

Mr Twyford added: "It's been really fun. Not as busy as I expected, but people are really friendly and we're not bothered by the rain."

Alexa Van Sickle, 25, from Austria, said she makes a point of visiting the "Home of Hogmanay" for the Bells every year.

She added: "Celebrating New Year anywhere else wouldn't be the same – this is the best in the world. Edinburgh really knows how to throw a party and this year is no exception."

Phil Russell, 23, didn't have far to come from his home in Bathgate, West Lothian, and brought 12 of his friends. He said: "Everyone kept telling us about the party and we decided just to do it this year. None of us have ever been before and we can't believe how many people are here. It's been a brilliant night."

American tourists John Willis and Megan McQuinn were also among the Princes Street revellers. Mr Willis, 29, said: "A friend of mine came to the Edinburgh party a few years ago and said it was amazing so we had to come and see it for ourselves."

Ms McQuinn, 27, said: "I can't believe how friendly Edinburgh is, and what a really great atmosphere there is in the city."

Crowds gathered as far away as North Queensferry in Fife to watch the breathtaking pyro-technic display scattered on seven hills around the capital.

Ten fireworks were set off every second – 6,000 in total.

However, organisers confirmed that £20 "party packs", offering access to the event as well as merchandise, were on sale until 10pm. In previous years, tickets sold out well in advance and the event drew 180,000 revellers to celebrate the millennium. Pete Irvine, of Unique Events – the firm behind the capital's celebrations, attacked claims that revellers were abandoning Edinburgh for rival cities such as Liverpool or Newcastle. He said: "Edinburgh's Hogmanay is still an incredibly strong event and delivers what it says on the tin."

Yesterday's festivities kicked off at 11am as about 400 New Zealanders packed Jongleurs comedy club in Edinburgh – and celebrated as the clock struck midnight in their homeland.

In Glasgow, about 15,000 people gathered at George Square. Indie band The View headlined the event, with Scottish singer-songwriter Amy MacDonald also performing.

Neil Gullaghan, 21, from London, described the atmosphere as "outstanding".

Max Johnstone, 11, of Greenock, went to George Square with mother Alice and his aunt and cousin from South Africa. He said: "It was brilliant. I have never experienced anything like this before. It was as good as Christmas."

In Oban, about 5,000 people were expected at Hogmanay celebrations marking the end of the Highland Year of Culture.

Scotland's largest free Hogmanay event was at Aberdeen's Castlegate, where 20,000 people watched headline act Travis and support act Sandi Thom.

Stonehaven hosted one of the last remaining midwinter fire festivals, with a procession of locals swinging fireballs to ward off the darkness and welcome 2008.

In London, more than 350,000 people gathered to hear Big Ben chime midnight.

Malaysia's Petronas Towers are the backdrop to a New Year fireworks display in Kuala Lumpur. Picture: Getty

Elsewhere, at least one million revellers watched fireworks shoot up from the Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and light up the Australian city's world- famous Opera House.

In Baghdad, residents celebrated by buying cakes, balloons and new clothes, and spoke of hopes for a more peaceful future. Many people in the Iraqi capital said they planned to celebrate New Year's Eve properly for the first time in years, as violence subsides in the city. In French cafés, people puffed on their last cigarettes in the run-up to a ban on smoking in public places. People in Cyprus and Malta were also preparing to start using the euro currency for the first time.

In the Philippines, a blaze destroyed nine fireworks stalls, setting off an unexpected display as burning debris and smoke billowed into the sky. Officials blamed a discarded cigarette.

In Japan, the country's three main mobile-phone carriers begged revellers to hold off calling family and friends or texting their good wishes in the first two hours of 2008 to prevent a system overload. Meanwhile, there was no escape from terrorism, as five bombs exploded in the tourist area of the Thai border town of Sungai Kolok, leaving at least 27 people wounded.

Traditional fireworks in central Brussels were also cancelled because of a terrorist threat after police last week detained 14 people suspected of plotting to help an accused al-Qaeda militant break out of jail.

LEON PULLS OUT OF PARTY

THE X-Factor winner Leon Jackson pulled out of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations at the last minute yesterday.

The 19-year-old singer, whose first single When You Believe was top of the Christmas charts, blamed a severe attack of tonsillitis.

He said: "I'm just disappointed to be letting people down, but it wouldn't feel nice to get on stage and not be able to deliver."

Pete Irvine, of Unique Events, said Leon was only due to play two songs, and signed up for the event only ten days ago.

"I don't think that thousands of people are coming tonight to see Leon. It was very last minute," he said.

Organisers were hoping the Oasis star Noel Gallagher, recently voted the coolest man in Britain at the age of 40, would make a surprise appearance, he said.

Leon, the former West Lothian shop assistant who celebrated his birthday at the weekend, shot to fame when he won the TV talent show.

He agreed to play at Edinburgh's Hogmanay after a request from the Lord Provost, George Grubb.

He was due to appear on the Waverley Stage at the eastern end of Princes Street. King Creosote and Trans-Global Underground were to play as planned.

Mr Grubb said: "We are very disappointed that Leon is unable to play. His presence would have been a great way to open the celebrations."

When You Believe sold 400,000 copies in two weeks and became the fastest single of 2007.

MARATHON FUND RAISER

BRITISH officers in Afghanistan saw in the New Year with a round-the-clock marathon to raise funds for the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association.

Sixteen officers from the 52 Brigade Infantry Headquarters in Lashkar Gah began their 24-hour marathon at midday.

The 52 Brigade is based in Edinburgh Castle and commands Regular Army units from all over the UK.

The officers aim to run about 26 miles each and raise about £5,000.

Anyone interested in donating should visit www.justgiving.com/2008midnightmarathon.