Trafalgar Square: No organised party for December 31

Ken Livingstone has announced details of London's New Year's Eve celebrations.

The Capital's mayor said that a 10 minute fireworks display will be the highlight of the night's events.

It will be conducted by Jack Morton Worldwide, the company which staged the opening and closing ceremonies at the Athens Olympics.

Costs for the event are expected to reach around £1 million.

"It would be a great mistake to invest two or £3 million on something in the middle of Trafalgar Square and find that the whole thing is put off by the weather," said Livingstone.

"The best thing would be to go to the pubs and clubs and just enjoy yourselves."

But London Conservative Angie Bray said the mayor was a "party pooper" for failing to organise a bigger event.

"How are we going to convince the International Olympic Committee that we can organise an Olympics in London if we can't even manage a New Year's Eve party?" she asked.