Britons take their positions hours in advance of New Year celebrations

Hardy Britons brave the elements and take their positions hours in advance of New Year celebrations – despite fears of a washout amid torrential downpours across the country

• Hardy Britons are braving the wind and the rain to celebrate the new year in style
• Revellers have begun to gather on the banks of the Thames for London fireworks
• Celebrations have kicked off in Newcastle with a laser light show on the Tyne 
• People have been queuing for hours despite warning of torrential downpours 
• Chief Medical Officer has warned people not to get too drunk this evening 

Brits are not letting the cold and damp weather get in the way of bringing in the New Year with a bang. 

Revellers have already begun to gather on the banks of the Thames ahead of the traditional London fireworks at midnight. 

Celebrations in Newcastle have seen the Tyne and Millennium bridges lit up by BAFTA award winning artist Seb Lee-Delisle.

Despite warnings of torrential downpours and yellow weather warnings across the south west people have been heading out to parties and celebrations.  

The area between the Millennium and Tyne bridges in Newcastle has been lit up to celebrate the New Year. People 

Celebrations have begun on the banks of the Thames, where fireworks will be let off at midnight. People have braved the harsh weather conditions to be there in person

Two revellers head out to celebrate the new year in Liverpool, despite the wet weather conditions

Poor weather will be seen across the country this evening, but will not put a dampener on parties for many. 

A yellow warning for rain has been issued across much of England’s south west and southern Wales until 9pm on Saturday. 

Disruption is also expected across the Scottish Highlands where there were warnings for ice until 11am and snow until 3pm.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Helen Caughey said it would be an ‘unsettled’ New Year weekend for much of the UK.

‘New Year’s Eve for most will be the wetter of the two days, with a number of fronts bringing rain and wind across much of the country,’ Ms Caughey said.

People admire the light show from a bridge in Newcastle. The display was designed by BAFTA winning artist Seb Lee-Delisle

Umbrellas could be seen along the banks of the Tyne in Newcastle as people gathered on the quay in the poor weather to see the laser show

‘The unsettled weather will stay with us into the evening. Much of Scotland will see a largely dry day, with just the odd shower, before a more persistent band of rain and hill snow arrives.

‘This will be followed by a more mixed New Year’s Day, with Scotland seeing the bulk of the unsettled conditions, with spells of rain, turning to snow over higher ground, continuing to push north.

‘While it will be mild across the south, it will remain colder in the north with an ice risk in places here early on Sunday.

‘Elsewhere, a drier day is expected, although with some showers, mainly across western areas, ahead of conditions becoming more widely settled into Monday.’

But for revellers who last long enough at the party, conditions should ease later this evening.  

Wet weather in London didn’t stop revellers crowding the banks of the Thames from the early evening

The London Eye was lit up ahead of the traditional midnight fireworks on the Thames to usher in the new year

Chief Medical Officer Sir Frank Atherton warned people not too indulge too much at parties this evening to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the NHS

People have been warned not to drink too much at the festivities this evening, to avoid putting further pressure on the NHS. 

Traditionally celebrations can last long into the night as people stay up to watch the fireworks and to celebrate the new year.  

Chief Medical Officer Sir Frank Atherton told BBC One’s Breakfast programme: ‘I agree people generally behave very sensibly. 

‘Sadly, when alcohol gets thrown into the mix, and it gets thrown in a big way in new year, that can sometimes go out of the window, and so we are asking people to behave sensibly, don’t put themselves at risk, don’t put others at risk, look after each other when you’re out and about, don’t drink too much and don’t get into trouble.’

Spectators at the laser light show in Newcastle on the banks of the Tyne

Yellow weather warnings had been in place in Scotland and the south west of England throughout New Year’s Eve but the weather 

It comes as health leaders warned this winter is likely to be the worst on record for A&E waiting times as hospitals struggle to cope with rocketing demand driven by flu and Strep A. 

Asked what activities people should avoid to reduce the risk of injury, Sir Frank added: ‘Now is not the time to be going out and starting to do a huge long run. We want people to get fit and active in the new year, of course we do, but do it sensibly, think about pacing yourself, about not taking on too much all at once.

‘Keeping yourself warm at home is really important as well, looking after your health, I know that’s very difficult with the cost-of-living crisis. 

People head out for a night out in Liverpool ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations across the country

Two women brave the elements in Liverpool to go out on December 31, 2022. Many people will stay home this year as a result of the cost-of-living crisis and lasting pandemic habits, it has been reported

A woman dressed up for a night out holds a small bag over her head to protect herself from the elements 

The rain hasn’t put people off bringing in the new year with a bang and bars and clubs have been selling tickets for special events

‘Watch out for your loved ones, make sure that people are kept safe, particularly the elderly at this time of year, that they are well hydrated at home, because people can get dehydrated very quickly, and we know that elderly people who get dehydrated then run into problems with frailty, they have falls, they need to be brought to hospital. 

‘So we can look after each other and look after ourselves and keep the NHS capacity for those who really need it.’

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) believes this month will be the worst December for hospital bed occupancy and A&E waiting times while the Society for Acute Medicine has said services are being ‘pressurised like never before’. 

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