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In Pictures: Empty streets bring curtain down on terrible year

Police officers were among the few people out and about at midnight.

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New Year’s celebrations

New Year’s Eve was a muted affair across the UK, with revellers urged to stay at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

People were warned not to add “fuel to the fire” by mixing in groups with rates of infection rising.

Edinburgh
People were urged to avoid Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh – usually bustling with crowds on New Year’s Eve (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Coronavirus – Thu Dec 31, 2020
Police patrol a quiet Princes Street, which would normally be packed with revellers (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Coronavirus – Thu Dec 31, 2020
A rainbow is lit up on the Mound in Edinburgh – a symbol of thanks for NHS workers (Andrew Milligan/PA)
A near-empty Leicester Square, as London’s New Year fireworks were cancelled
A near-empty Leicester Square, after London’s New Year fireworks were cancelled (Jonathan Brady/PA)
New Year’s celebrations
Mounted police patrol in Haymarket, London (Jonathan Brady/PA)
New Year’s celebrations
Officers stationed at the statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus (Jonathan Brady/PA)
New Year’s celebrations
Trafalgar Square, usually popular with New Year’s Eve revellers, is deserted (Jonathan Brady/PA)
New Year’s celebrations
A few people brave the cold to look for late-night food in Rupert Street, London (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Fireworks are set off over St James’ Park in Newcastle
There were some fireworks over St James’ Park in Newcastle (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Lights in the night sky on New Year’s Eve seen from Ironbridge, near Telford, Shropshire
Lights in the night sky on New Year’s Eve seen from Ironbridge, near Telford, Shropshire (Nick Potts/PA)
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