REVELLERS were out in force across Ipswich to welcome in the start of 2007.The town's pubs and clubs were bustling with partygoers eager to send the old year off in style although many chose to stay at home over fears about the weather.

REVELLERS were out in force across Ipswich to welcome in the start of 2007.

The town's pubs and clubs were bustling with partygoers eager to send the old year off in style although many chose to stay at home because of earlierfears about the weather.

But the Cornhill filled up as people congregated in the town centre for the chimes before midnight.

Police preparations for the evening were in full swing long before the celebrations began to ensure a smooth night while many pubs and clubs in the town continued the policy of not letting people in after 11pm to avoid trouble.

The Evening Star Christmas tree was also taken down to make way for the town centre crowds.

Weather conditions in Ipswich on the night were not ideal for celebrations - but the worst of the storms had blown north 24 hours earlier.

Elsewhere in the UK a firework display in Liverpool was moved to January 5, while an outdoor concert in Belfast was scrapped because of high winds.

Hogmanay celebrations in Scotland's biggest city were cancelled due to the weather. Around 25,000 revellers had been expected to see in the New Year at Glasgow's George Square.

However, organisers said high winds and rain had forced them to cancel the event.

There was a similar story in Newcastle on Tyne where the fireworks celebration was cancelled because of fears of stormy weather.

Northern parts of the country faced the worst weather conditions, with many parts experiencing strong gusts.

But despite the bad weather in the north of Britain many celebrations still went ahead - organisers of the Edinburgh hogmanay celebrations were determined that most of its events would go ahead despite the storms.

Further south Saturday's storms had largely blown themselves out, leaving party organisers with less of a headache.

In London there was lighting and projections on the South Bank followed by a pyrotechnic and lighting display at midnight at the London Eye.

Meanwhile Australian singer Kylie Minogue launched the British leg of her Showgirl Homecoming tour at Wembley Arena in London on New Year's Eve.

Around the world, New Year celebrations had started earlier - with a spectacular firework display over Sydney harbour bridge heralding the arrival of 2007 in Australia. And in Hong Kong and Taipei there were great celebrations for the new year.