Hardy Brits celebrate the arrival of 2024 despite 75mph winds - as parties and festivities begin across Europe

31 December 2023, 23:40

Party-going Brits braved lashing rain and strong winds as they rang in the New Year in style.

People flocked to the streets of London, Liverpool and Newcastle despite downpours in a bid to make the most of the arrival of 2024.

Fireworks drew huge crowds at the London Eye for the stroke of midnight. In Scotland, the 30th Hogmanay street party in Edinburgh was headlined by rockers Pulp.

Firework shows took place in Blackpool and a laser show was projected onto the Baltic Flour Mills in Newcastle. But bad weather forced the cancellation of Plymouth’s winter wonderland and a Devon town’s fireworks show.

The new year's eve party was in full swing across Europe too, with thousands gathering at iconic landmarks to usher in 2024.

More than 100,000 people are expected to watch London's display in person, with millions more tuning in online.

Madrid, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Berlin celebrated the arrival of 2024 earlier. In Germany, crowds at the Brandenburg Gate saw the new year in with a rousing version of Auld Lang Syne.

Rain battered parts of England - with Plymouth’s Winter Wonderland event cancelled - as well as a Devon town’s fireworks display.

Organisers of the Plymouth event said: "As much as we are very disappointed and frustrated, your safety comes first, as well as ours, and we can't possibly take the risk."

In Devon, Barnstaple Town Centre Management said it was forced to axe the fireworks display due to the weather.

The Met Office issued a yellow warning for severe gales and heavy showers throughout Sunday, with the south of England and Wales set to be worst hit.

A spell of strong and gusty winds will move east, bringing some disruption to travel and services, the Met Office said.

There could also be some short-term loss of power and other services.

Fresh warnings for rain were also issued for north-west England heading into the early hours of Monday, with a growing risk of flooding.

The warnings come on the heels of a gusty few days brought on by Storm Gerrit.

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) even warned that England and Wales should brace for "severe thunderstorms" that could become "isolated tornadoes" as gusts reached up to 70mph.

Read more: New Year's Eve weather chaos: Snow, 75mph winds and rain set to sweep UK as revellers told 'do not travel'

Read more: New Year's Eve travel hell to continue with families devastated at St Pancras after flooded tunnels

The extreme conditions caused travel chaos for thousands on Saturday after "unprecedented" tunnel flooding halted all Eurostar services to and from London St Pancras.

Passengers were left stranded as they rushed to find alternative routes ahead of the New Year, with some left "in tears" after their trips to Disneyland were "ruined".

An update on Eurostar's site on Sunday said: "Due to an incident on the 30/12/2023, our trains and stations are very busy. Please only travel if necessary."

Temperatures are expected to be nearer to normal on New Year's Eve with the day starting bright in some places.

There will be plenty of showers around with overnight rain still clearing in eastern areas.

Scattered, blustery showers will develop throughout the day, possibly thundery along southern coasts, but some brighter spells are possible between showers.

Strong winds are expected in London for New Year's Eve celebrations although it is expected to stay dry and around 8C.

New Year's Day should turn drier for many, particularly across more central southern parts of England and across Scotland with the "central slice" of the UK most likely to have showery rain.

"As we look through the rest of the first week of 2024 and at the moment Tuesday looks like it'd be a largely dry day with some fine weather around before the return to something more unsettled - some heavy rain, some strong winds, and that does bring the potential for something a little bit colder and possibly wintry," meteorologist Alex Burkill said.