The UK has welcomed in the new year with spectacular firework displays in London and Edinburgh among the highlights.

More than 100,000 ticketholders watched London’s midnight firework show from the banks of the River Thames.

Big Ben also chimed to welcome in 2018 having been turned back on part way through restoration work.

Meanwhile, Hogmanay in Edinburgh went ahead, despite 76mph winds hitting parts of Scotland on Sunday.

Up to 150,000 people were expected to descend on Edinburgh despite earlier concerns that Storm Dylan might threaten events.

Rag’n’Bone Man is headlining Concert in the Gardens, while The Human League are among the acts taking to the street party stages.

A soundscaped fireworks display over the castle entertained revellers for the first nine minutes of 2018.

In central London, the soundtrack to the midnight show was dominated by female artists, including Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande and Florence Welch, to mark the centenary of women getting the vote.

Some 10,000 fireworks lit up the sky in a 12-minute display.

However, people have been urged to remain vigilant.

Superintendent Nick Aldworth said: “We are providing a proportionate number of officers based on the threat, number of people coming and the secure environment we’ve been able to build.”

He said “a mix of overt and covert officers would be deployed, as well as dogs, and the use of CCTV” and spectators should report anything suspicious to an officer or event staff.