NEW YEAR celebrations in Blackpool town centre went with somewhat less than a bang this year due to severe weather conditions.

At around 10.30pm on December 31, the company staging the multi-thousand pound firework display, Preston-based Millennium Pyrotechnics, took the decision that the high gusting winds on the night could cause the industrial fireworks to veer off course and become a danger to spectators.

Several hundred people had gathered to see the fireworks which were to be the highlight of the New Year celebrations in the town and were set up at the end of North Pier.

Other events staged for the evening included the lighting of a beacon at North Pier, and the switching on of a Millennium tableaux, all of which went very smoothly and according to plan. The tableau was designed by students from Bispham High School, pictured here with illuminations artist Shoichi Yasud.

But gale force winds were forecast throughout the night and in the early portion of the evening gusts reaching gale force eight and nine battered the coastline.

Head of tourism Jane Seddon said warnings by the media kept people off the streets. "There were very strong warnings being given out by the media telling people not to go out on the streets, and definitely for the first part of the evening that was sound advice," she said.

"We even had a TV crew coming to film the celebrations, but they were told by their bosses not to set off because they could well get stuck.

"The weather did drop as midnight approached, but we had to make a decision earlier and safety always comes first.

"Although lots of people set off fireworks in their back gardens, these display fireworks are very different and are basically industrial strength high explosives.The council insured the fireworks against such an incident and can now organise another display later in the year.

A fun run along the beach which took place on New Year's Day was also a great success.