New year events cancelled as high winds and heavy rain batter UK
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Cancellations include Blackpool, Newcastle, Isle of Wight and Ripon, with weather also causing travel problems. High winds and heavy rain battering the UK have caused travel problems and the cancellation of a swathe of new year events including firework displays and a bathtub race that takes place in Europe’s largest natural harbour.
The predicted strong winds led to the cancellation of displays heralding the arrival of 2025 in places including Blackpool, Newcastle’s quayside, the Isle of Wight and Ripon, North Yorkshire, joining the already cancelled Hogmanay festival in Edinburgh.
In Lowestoft, Suffolk, two firework displays scheduled for New Year’s Day were postponed until Saturday. The organisers said safety was the overriding concern. A spokesperson for Newcastle city council said the cancellation of its New Year’s Eve fireworks was a tough decision but added: “The forecast has made it clear that continuing would pose risks to those attending, as well as our event teams working on site.
“We understand how disappointing this news will be for both residents and visitors, including those who’ve travelled to our city.”. The UK Met Office has a patchwork of weather warnings in place for different parts of the country until Thursday, with people advised to check forecasts for their area.
