THE New Year will once again arrive with a whimper in Manchester city centre.

City council chiefs have not arranged a fireworks display or any official celebration for the hundreds of people expected to gather under the famous Town Hall clock in Albert Square at midnight.

London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Newcastle and Leeds are all hosting New Year celebrations tonight, while Liverpool will mark the start of its year as European Capital of Culture with a record-breaking peal of bells.

But the Labour councillor with responsibility for Manchester City Centre said there could be no party here unless there was a "cultural revolution" in attitudes towards alcohol.

Coun Pat Karney, who is celebrating New Year in Berlin, said: "It's a shame. Most European cities have fantastic New Year's celebrations, but there would have to be a cultural revolution for this to happen here.

"The combination of alcohol and large crowds of people doesn't work in Britain on New Year's Eve."

Some 400,000 people are expected to celebrate New Year's Eve in London, where there will be a traditional firework display.

And Liverpool will mark the stroke of midnight with a peal of bells at the city's two cathedrals.

Edinburgh

In Edinburgh, where Hogmanay celebrations are a landmark event, more than 100,000 people are expected to crowd the city centre for a street bash featuring music from rock band Kasabian and X-Factor winner Leon Jackson as well as a spectacular firework display. Organisers of the Scottish bash also operate a free late bus service to ensure revellers can return home safely.

And the party spirit was also being kept alive south of the border in Newcastle, where a council-backed firework night features live music, entertainers and fun rides. And a fleet of specially decorated cars, including surreal milk floats and a fire-breathing vehicle, will take part in a parade around the city.

In Leeds, a carnival-style event and fireworks extravaganza is being staged by the city council. A number of club and music nights were also being staged, including a bash at Leeds' town hall.

A free pyrotechnics show featuring dancers, acrobats is being held at Cardiff Castle.

But there will be no official bash in Manchester, leaving those who visit Albert Square with nothing but the town hall clock for company at the stroke of midnight.

There was disappointment among revellers as the town hall clock heralded the start of 2007, with some saying the lack of an official display made Manchester look like a "second-rate city".

"Get its act together"

Phil Burke, a spokesman for the Manchester Pub and Club Network, said the city council needs to "get its act together".

He said: "About 15,000 people will be in Manchester to celebrate New Year and it's quite annoying that there is no official firework display for them.

"The city is good at celebrating other events, so why can't it do something for New Year as well? People were standing there in the rain and the cold last year, and they were disappointed because there was no official display.

"If other cities can do it, then surely the city council needs to get its act together and put something on.

"The lack of an official firework display creates dangers because it encourages people to bring their own into the city."

Manchester Lib Dem leader, Coun Simon Ashley, said it was time for a review of how the city celebrates New Year.

He said: "We do so much to attract people into the city for Christmas that it seems inconsistent that we don't do anything for New Year.

"It's the only time we don't encourage people to venture into the city. I think there should be a review, at least to see if it's feasible."

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