Capital party is back in style

IT will go down as the year Edinburgh's Hogmanay came back with a bang.

Delighted street party organisers said the success of the event and a turnout of around 95,000 had secured its long-term future.

After two cancellations in four years, competition from rival cities and slow ticket sales, it was the first time in the ten-year history of the organised street party that the event fell short of its 100,000 capacity.

But the sight of tens of thousands of revellers packed into Princes Street at the bells will still have provided a huge boost for the city's Hogmanay team.

Police reported just 16 arrests for minor offences on the night, though the ambulance service handled a record 962 calls between 7pm on Hogmanay and 7am yesterday.

Most were for minor casualties – a category that could include X Factor winner Leon Jackson, who had to pull out at the last minute with tonsillitis.

Concert-goers were instead treated to a surprise appearance by Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher, who joined headliners Kasabian on the Ross Bandstand stage.

Deputy council leader Steve Cardownie, the city's festivals chief, hailed the event and hit back at "doom-merchants".

"It has been fabulous," he said. "It was a big surprise having Noel Gallagher appearing and I think that more than compensated for the loss of Leon Jackson at the last minute.

"The crowd were well-behaved, and the figures showed that all the doom-merchants talking about the demise of the street party were totally wrong."

Around 500 stewards and an estimated 400 police officers were on hand to ensure the celebrations passed off peacefully.

Bars and food stalls up and down Princes Street did a roaring trade, although a shortage of litter bins meant the city's cleansing department were left with a massive task the following morning.

Medical stations were set up around the sprawling party area, which covered Princes Street and the Mound, and staff reported no serious injuries, although as was expected several people had to be treated for the effects of too much alcohol.

The constant drizzle also meant the steep grass embankments of the gardens were more than a little treacherous, but despite dozens of people taking a tumble no one was badly hurt.

At the stroke of midnight the sky was lit up with a spectacular fireworks display from the Capital's seven hills, while people hugged, kissed and started impromptu ceilidhs on Princes Street which went on until the event ended at around 1am.

The rain continued into New Years Day, but despite the miserable weather thousands got 2008 off to a healthy start by taking part in the annual One O'Clock Run.

Hundreds more took part in the Cycle Triathlon in Holyrood Park, and there was also a large family crowd for the Dogmanay event which saw teams of Huskies compete in a series of fun races in the park.

And many more people took the plunge into the icy waters of the Forth at South Queensferry in the traditional Loony Dook.

Pete Irvine, managing director of producers Unique Events, said: "It was important that we got this right, because of what happened in previous years.

"I think we have managed to revive the spirit of the Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party this year, with a crowd from around the world who will go away with great memories."