Bring in the new year in New York

Britons fed up of spending New Year's Eve in the same old place every year might prefer to travel to New York for the world-famous Times Square celebrations.

Hundreds of thousands of revellers descend on the city every year for what is possibly the most watched new year celebration in the world.

As well as watching the traditional dropping of the New Year's Eve Ball at midnight, visitors to New York can enjoy a host of events in the run-up to the magical moment.

Party-goers tend to begin arriving in Times Square after 17:00 local time to watch the lighting and raising of the ball to the top of One Times Square.

This is then followed by a 21-second fireworks salute number of musical performances by the likes of Puddle of Mudd, the Troggs, Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige and more, catering to the tastes of every spectator in the crowd.

Between performances, numerous interviews and videos are shown on large screens throughout the square, interspersed with hourly countdowns.

Seconds before midnight, a crystal switch is flicked and the giant ball descends to the floor of Times Square as the clocks chime in the new year to cascades of confetti and cheers.

For more information on the event, see the Times Square website.

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