The first day of the year has been marked in colourful style by thousands of people across the nation.
They turned out on a bright but chilly New Year’s Day to watch parades and performers – and also to go for a quick dip.
Thousands gathered in central London for the annual New Year’s Day Parade (LNYDP), which is now in its 33rd year to see marching bands and performers.
It involved more than 8,000 performers from more than 20 nationalities ranging from dancers to marching bands, and giant balloons to stunt riders, according to London mayor Sadiq Khan.
That’s a wrap!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! pic.twitter.com/ouNFEcF5Od
— LNYDP (@Lnydp) January 1, 2019
In a message on the LNYDP website, Mr Khan said there was “really is no better place to welcome in the New Year than London”.
He said the aim was to “turn some of our most iconic streets into a sea of joy and colour”.
In excess of 550 people welcomed in the New Year with a dip in the North Sea here in North Berwick with @RNLI volunteers on standby, thankfully everyone remembered to #RespectTheWater and had a safe Loony Dook. @BBCScotland @STVNews @elcourier pic.twitter.com/z20NMCreAL
— North Berwick RNLI (@NBRNLI) January 1, 2019
There also colourful scenes of revellers, many of whom had come in fancy dress, who flocked to the shores of South Queensferry for a swim in the chilly waters of the Firth of Forth.
The event, known as the Loony Dook, is part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. Traditional tartan warriors, a Donald Trump lookalike and someone on an inflatable unicorn were among the colourful images.
Organisers said Tony Pirouet, who came in a home-made costume as a man on a toilet, won the fancy dress prize a £250 donation to his chosen charity of East Fife and Scooniehill Riding for the Disabled.
“It was fantastic being a ‘Dooker’ welcoming the new year. It’s terrific how much energy and excitement the Loony Dook generates and the fantastic fancy dress costumes people make and the money generated for charity. We’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year!”
The annual Scarborough Lions New Year’s Day Dip, which encourages people to arrive at the beach in fancy dress for a dip in the North Sea, also took place.
Donations are still being collected and will go towards helping people in the community.
Revellers also came out for the Barry Island New Year’s Day swim in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.
Inflatable ducks and unicorns plus people dressed as mermaids and Daleks could be seen.
