Shropshire and Mid Wales 999 workers busy during new year celebrations

As expected, there was an increase in call-outs across the region as more alcohol-related calls came in.

West Mercia Police said it was a busy night for its operations and communications centre staff who received 321 emergency 999 calls between 7pm and 7am.

It also revealed it received one 999 call every minute by 2am.

Meanwhile, firefighters in the region issued a warning after a series of false alarms on New Year's Eve.

Whitchurch firefighters were called to three incidents which turned out to be false alarms.

West Mercia OCC tweeted: "Busy NYE night for OCC staff. 321 emergency 999 calls between 7pm and 7am, that's more than we usually get in a day!"

Meanwhile, New Year's celebrations across the world ushered in 2017 with dazzling fireworks displays and crowded streets amid tightened security measures.

There was a huge police presence on the streets of London as spectators from nearly 100 countries flocked to the Thames to watch the night sky light up as Big Ben struck midnight.

With memories of the lethal Berlin lorry truck attack still fresh, London mayor Sadiq Khan assured crowds the capital was "as safe as it possibly can be".

After the event passed successfully, he haled it as demonstrating to the world that London "is open to all".

In Scotland, Hogmanay celebrations were thought to have attracted a crowd of up to 80,000 people to Edinburgh for the sold-out, world-famous event, described as the UK's largest outdoor winter festival.

Cities in the Pacific island nations of Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati were among the first to bid farewell to 2016, before fireworks were launched from the top of Auckland's Sky Tower in New Zealand. Two pyrotechnic shows followed at Sydney Harbour and doused Australia's iconic bridge in the bright light of an estimated seven tonnes of fireworks.

Meanwhile, red starbursts exploded above the Kremlin for the Russian occasion, which marks the country's major gift-giving holiday.

In Europe, fireworks in Helsinki also signified the beginning of the centenary year of Finnish independence.

Back in London, Mr Khan said the "dazzling display" in the capital was "celebrated safely and in style" thanks to the work of the emergency services.

"People came from all over the world to kick off the New Year in our great city and our world-renowned fireworks display was broadcast around the globe, delivering the message, once more, that London is open to all," he added. About 3,000 officers were on duty within and outside ticketed areas.

Scotland Yard said officers made 33 arrests for crimes including 10 assaults, two sexual offences and a drugs offence.

Superintendent Andy Morgan said: "We developed and improved our security plan for the New Year's Eve event."

Some anticipated the arrival of the New Year on boats that darted back and forth in front of the London Eye, which projected rainbow spotlights from its base, while crowds lining the Victoria embankment held their phones aloft with the torches on to illuminate the shoreline.

The site's DJ acknowledged international visitors and said they were welcome to the capital to kick off 2017, with music keeping them entertained.