New Year’s celebrated across world but UK events cancelled due to bad weather: live

Travel plans for millions are in disarray as a combination of bad weather, rail engineering work and a train managers’ strike disrupt public transport.

As around 300 RMT members walk out, most Avanti trains linking the capital with the West Midlands, northwest England, North Wales and southern Scotland are cancelled, with passengers urged to avoid travel.

The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder reports:

Singer Robbie Williams kicked off new year celebrations in Australia with a performance outside Sydney Opera House.

The 50-year-old headlined ABC’s New Year’s Eve Party in the city, where 2025 has already begun, playing his biggest hits to celebrate the release of his film Better Man.

Speaking after the show, Williams said: “I’ve always had a soft spot for Australia.

“Ever since I first arrived here on my solo tour in 2003, Australia accepts me for who I am and that’s the best feeling.

“So, it was truly an honour to entertain the nation in front of the iconic Sydney Harbour counting down to New Year’s Eve.”

Better Man is out now in UK cinemas and its soundtrack album has also been released digitally.

The album features remixed versions of songs such as Angels, She’s The One and Rock DJ, as well as new song Forbidden Road, which has been nominated in the Best Original Song (Motion Picture) category at next year’s Golden Globes.

The musical film is based on the story of the rise, fall and return of British musician Williams, who is portrayed by a CGI chimpanzee.

A number of fireworks displays have been cancelled across the UK amid the bad weather battering the country.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay outdoor celebrations, which include a street party and fireworks, have been cancelled due to safety concerns.

Fireworks displays in Blackpool, Newcastle, Ripon in North Yorkshire, and the Isle of Wight have also all been axed.

However, Sir Sadiq Khan has confirmed that London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks event will still go ahead at midnight.

The Met Office has issued numerous weather warnings across the UK, with almost every region affected between Monday and Wednesday.

Yellow warnings for wind have been issued for parts of central and southern Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland, with gusts expected to reach up to 70mph.A yellow warning for snow and rain initially covered most of Scotland until midnight, which the Met Office said “may bring significant disruption in the build-up to New Year,” but it was later revised to cover the Highlands and Moray only, with the warning extended until 4am.The new year will be off to a turbulent start with weather warnings in place for wind, rain and snow on 1 January. Winds of up to 60mph are forecast across much of England and Wales all day on Wednesday, with gusts of 75mph likely around coastal areas and hills, according to the Met Office.

London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks event will go ahead at midnight despite weather concerns across the UK, Sir Sadiq Khan confirmed.

With weather warnings in place, many planned 31 December events have been cancelled, but the capital’s fireworks display will proceed as scheduled to mark the start of 2025.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq said: “I’m really excited about the London New Year’s Eve fireworks, the biggest fireworks taking place anywhere across Europe.

“Hundreds of thousands of fireworks, great light display but also a great soundtrack tonight as well.”

Rome’s traditional New Year’s Eve festivities have an additional draw: the start of Pope Francis’ Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century celebration projected to bring some 32 million pilgrims to the Eternal City in 2025.

On Tuesday, Francis has celebrated a vespers at St Peter’s Basilica.

Mass on Wednesday will follow, when he is expected to again appeal for peace amid wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

New Year’s Day, 1 January, is a day of obligation for Catholics, marking the Solemnity of Mary.