It’s a happy Hogmanay as we show world how to party

THE world partied into 2017 last night, with Scottish celebrations leading the way.

First-footers revelled under a multi-coloured canopy of fireworks as the new year was greeted with the usual gusto across the country.

The first nations to push the button on their celebrations as midnight swept around the globe were the islands of Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati.

They rang in the new year at 10am UK time yesterday.

Meanwhile, Sydney Harbour Bridge was doused in an explosion of light from an estimated seven tonnes of fireworks during two displays.

But it was Edinburgh’s world-famous celebrations that really set the occasion alight.

An estimated 80,000 party people from around the world helped celebrate the bells in Scottish style.

They packed into the city centre where they were due to watch a laser and fireworks display from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle.

Meanwhile, Paisley-born singer Paolo Nutini was due to be the headline act at a sold-out Concert In The Gardens.

The night formed the main part of Edinburgh’s three-day Hogmanay celebrations, which concludes today with the Loony Dook in the Forth.

The UK’s most intense six minutes of fireworks were expected to go off with a bang shortly after the stroke of midnight for what could be the last time.

More than 10,000 shots and stars in every firework colour were set to light up the sky, a culmination of 1000 hours of planning and five days of setting up.

But the dazzling – and deafening – fireworks could be shelved for next year’s Hogmanay celebration – after Edinburgh councillors agreed to commission a report into the impact of the noise from the displays earlier this month.

Tory councillor Joanna Mowat said the noise was a constant complaint from residents and is looking to introduce silent pyrotechnics instead.

One bunch not concerned about the noise was Edinburgh’s expat Australians.

Many gathered in the city’s Oz Bar, where TVs showed the New Year fireworks live from Sydney Harbour. Indeed, New Year was being celebrated every hour in the run up to midnight last night at the lively bar.

Tyler Berry, 26, from the Gold Coast, Queensland, celebrated at 1pm, 2pm and then midnight at the street party. “My triple New Year has been absolutely fantastic,” he said.

His pal, Sam Overton, 25, originally from Sydney and now living in London, travelled to Edinburgh to sample Hogmanay – and it didn’t disappoint. “The celebrations have been out of this world,” she said.

It was a night for partying from Stornoway to Stranraer as the nation celebrated despite the dreich weather.

Heavy rain and high winds hit most of the country yesterday and thick fog in London caused widespread disruption to Scottish flights to and from Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

In Glasgow, hundreds partied under a twinkling canopy in the West End at the Ashton Lane street party, enjoying outdoor bars and barbecues.

Those not wishing to brave the elements headed to the sheltered Merchant Square for its live music and midnight balloon drop.

There were nearly three hours of live entertainment to accompany the bells in Aberdeen against the backdrop of His Majesty’s Theatre while around 10,000 revellers packed into the Northern Meeting Park in Inverness for the biggest Hogmanay bash in the Highlands.

In Stonehaven, a parade of fireball swingers welcomed the new year in spectacular style. The 150-year-old tradition was under threat due to the cancellation of the town’s open-air celebration but proved popular as ever during a procession through Stonehaven’s high street, accompanied by a pipe band.

There was a similarly fiery spectacle in South Lanarkshire, as the Biggar bonfire was lit at around 9.30pm. The tradition in the village dates back to Pagan times, when fire was believed to ward off evil spirits.

It was a more sedate scene in the Moray village of Dufftown where locals were due to descend on the centre shortly after midnight to raise a toast in “the malt whisky capital of the world”.

Away from the parties, BBC Scotland’s Jackie Bird battled with Sunday Post columnist Lorraine Kelly on STV with special shows bringing in the bells.

And, if last night’s countdown to midnight seemed like it lasted longer than usual, then you’re not wrong. An extra second, a so-called “leap second”, has been added to compensate for a slowdown in the Earth’s rotation.