Stylish start to the new year

Thousands of New Year's Eve revellers took to the streets to welcome in 2008 – with thousands more joining parties in pubs and at home.

Whether it was a red-carpet night at a swish hotel or a packed-out pub, there were parties for every taste to see in the new year all over the region.

An estimated 100,000 people joined the fun in Birmingham city centre where celebrations centred on Centenary Square and Broad Street and the skies were lit up with a spectacular fireworks display.

The five-minute blast of colour and sound delighted crowds who flooded the streets as the new year was rung in.

Hundreds descended on The Copthorne Hotel in Brierley Hill where a stylish James Bond themed night was held.

Male party-goers donned their best tuxedos while the ladies turned out in glamorous gowns for the occasion.

Among those at the event was accountant Lisa Szeto, aged 29, of Rowley Regis.

She said: "The James Bond theme is great because it means my friends and I can get dressed up and enjoy a nice evening."

Fellow revellers Chris Gissing and Nicola Fellows, of Halesowen, were enjoying their first New Year's Eve together.

The pair met during a holiday romance in Gran Canaria in September and have been dating ever since.

Nicola said: "We are looking forward to 2008, and this was a great way to see in the new year."

Laura Wynn, of Kingswinford, said: "You don't get the chance to dress up in this way at the pub, so this is the opportunity to do it."

In Stourbridge, the town's many bars were brimming with people in party spirits.

At Que Pasa, some turned up in carnival themed costumes.

James Pearson, Felicity Hammond and Rebecca Ansemous were among them.

James said: "You have to go all out on New Year's Eve with your friends.

"When else would you get the chance?"

Aussies Mark Farrell and Karen Perry love nothing better than being in the UK for New Year's Eve.

Mark said: "We always come to England over Christmas and New Year to see our relatives.

"It's always a great time, and we have a blast." For Hayley Turner, 23, and Trish Atkinson, 22, of Stourbridge, it is a case of fingers crossed for the new year. Hayley said: "Our New Year Resolution is to find decent blokes."

In Upper Gornal, Mark and Tracy Westwood saw in the new year while relaxing in a hot tub with a glass of bubbly.

New Year revellers celebrated in style in Stafford at the newly opened Casa venue.

The £1m nightspot and eaterie opened a week before Christmas and has quickly become the place to be for the town's over-25s. The champagne was flowing and the place was packed with revellers bringing in the new year.

Owner Nick Wilks, Jack Peters and Dave Malia will hold an officially launch party this month.

Meanwhile, partygoers lined prime spots in London's Trafalgar Square and Embankment to hear Big Ben chime midnight and watch a dazzling firework display over the River Thames.

As Big Ben chimed in the final moments of 2007, the fireworks began and the sky lit up. The display lasted 11 minutes and, as it ended, the crowds began to cheer and sing Auld Lang Syne.

An estimated 700,000 people arrived in the capital for celebrations, and more than 3,600 Metropolitan Police officers, some of them in plain clothes, were on duty.