Britain rings in the New Year with spectacular fireworks displays

 By 
Blathnaid Healy
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Fireworks lit up the skies across Britain on New Year's Eve, attracting large crowds eager to celebrate the start of 2015.

In London, crowds celebrated the arrival of the New Year from the banks of the River Thames with a multi-coloured display of fireworks.

This aerial footage of the spectacle was taken by MPS Helicopters.

Here's the full show:

Even some of those working the event managed to catch a glimpse.

#BeautifulView of #London fireworks. Officers patrolling @TLRailUK @TfL throughout the night #TravelSafe #NewYearsEve pic.twitter.com/21FVsNtq6a— BTP StPancras&KingsX (@BTPkingscross) January 1, 2015

For the first time, key vantage points could only be accessed with pre-bought tickets, this led to some criticism as touts sold on the £10 tickets for as much as £200.

Remember, only officially printed tickets with a hologram will be accepted. Tickets printed at home will not permit entry— London Gov (@LDN_gov) December 31, 2014

Not to be outdone by London, Edinburgh put on a huge show.

Dear London, you're going to have to up your game to get anywhere close to Edinburgh. Yours, a Londoner #blogmanay pic.twitter.com/N4JcTMYgL7— Hannah (@AdventureHan) January 1, 2015

And it more than met expectations, delivering another Hogmanay to remember.

Happy New Year everyone, hope you have a wonderful year ahead Here's one from half an hour ago around Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/rO61papz9C— Mo Thomson (@MoThomson) January 1, 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR! All the best to you and yours for 2015. #blogmanay pic.twitter.com/pntdANylKC— Edinburgh's Hogmanay (@edhogmanay) January 1, 2015

#2015 Fireworks... #Blogmanay pic.twitter.com/BGOTZtbaNq— Ian (@ian262) January 1, 2015

Singer Lily Allen was one of the main attractions.

Meanwhile, as the clock struck midnight, Wales celebrated with a fireworks display at Cardiff City Hall.

Woohooooo!! Happy new year ≧∇≦ #NewYear #2015 #GoodBye2014 #Wish #Fireworks #Happiness #WithU #UK #Cardiff #UKIG #HKIG #KAZZCHI #Video A video posted by Kassie C. (@kazzchi) on Dec 12, 2014 at 4:42pm PST

Happy new year Cardiff! #2015 A video posted by Fatin Noor Amera Mohd Fadzil (@fatinfadzil_) on Dec 12, 2014 at 5:13pm PST

The event could be seen from across Cardiff Bay.

Cardiff bay celebrates 2015 #fireworks #NewYearsEve #Cardiff #wales #photography pic.twitter.com/TKXy7jwuhL— MLA Photography (@MLA_Photography) January 1, 2015

Things didn't go quite to plan in Manchester.

After running through the countdown, the crowd were left waiting. According to the Manchester Evening News a tram driver had pulled into the 'fall out' zone where debris from the fireworks could fall. Until the tram moved it wasn't safe to start the display.

After four excruciatingly long minutes, the fireworks eventually got underway.

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