Hardy revellers braved freezing temperatures last night to throng the streets and ring in the New Year.
Huge crowds gathered in London and Edinburgh despite fears many would stay away because of the credit crunch - and the weather.
Spectacular fireworks displays lit up the night sky across Britain after celebrations across the world as 2009 rolled in.
LONDON: Above and below, a spectacular fireworks display fills the sky around Big Ben and the London Eye as the capital sees in the New Year
In London, crowds applauded and cheered during an impressive 12-minute fireworks display on the banks of the River Thames.
People had gathered hours before the event to secure a good vantage point.
A reveller dressed as Batman joins the festivities in Trafalgar Square
Groups popped champagne corks and hugged and kissed their friends as Big Ben struck midnight to usher in 2009.
In Edinburgh, around 100,000 people welcomed in the New Year in sub-zero temperatures with a mass rendition of Auld Lang Syne at one of the most famous street parties in the world.
Cheers erupted from the crowds as the chimes sounded midnight and fireworks lit up the night sky against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.
SCOTLAND: A huge volley of fireworks explode over Edinburgh
In Edinburgh minutes later, partygoers at the Hogmanay celebrations sang along as a video clip of Auld Lang Syne was played on screens across the city centre.
Organisers said it was the world's biggest rendition of the Robert Burns' poem, which is sung around the world to celebrate New Year.
It was arranged to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Scottish poet's birth.
Most of those outside in the cold when midnight struck will not have noticed that the final minute of 2008 was 61 seconds long.
British physicists and official timekeepers around the world inserted a 'leap second' to bring the most accurate atomic clocks in line with the astronomical day.
NEW YORK: Confetti fills the sky during the festivities
PARIS: Thousands of revellers celebrate the New Year on the Champs Elysees
People waiting for the stroke of midnight were entertained by giant projections and light shows on the walls of the city's landmark buildings.
They were played a series of video messages, beginning with an address from London mayor Boris Johnson, in which he urged the city to 'go forward with enthusiasm' into 2009.
Actress Helen Mirren told the crowd that despite the fact that she was many miles away on the other side of the world, her heart was 'with you insane Londoners. And you've got to be insane, because I bet it's bloody freezing.'
SINGAPORE: The skyline above the city is lit up for the New Year
SYDNEY: Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Cartoon character Homer Simpson and his wife Marge also gave their own animated greeting, in which the first comment was on the global economic situation.
Mrs Simpson told the crowd that in a tough year, the world had to pull together, but her husband responded: 'Except for America, where everybody gets bail-outs. We've learnt nothing, so woohoo.'
Comedian Ricky Gervais drew laughter from the crowd as he mused on why London was 'the greatest city in the world'.
He said: 'Maybe it's the people, maybe it's the buildings, maybe it's because we've got a great mayor,' before rolling his eyes dramatically and wandering off-screen.
Veteran actor Michael Caine said that he would normally wish for a 'prosperous' New Year. But he said: 'This year I think what we really need is luck, so good luck everybody.'
RUSSIA: Thousands were at the Red Square in Moscow to see in 2009
LITHUANIA: Fireworks crack over Cathedral Square in Vilnius
Two Colombian students Yadica Guerreo, 26, and Johana Sosa, 21, who celebrated the New Year in the shadow of Big Ben, said that being in London to see in 2009 was 'like a dream come true'.
Miss Guerreo said: 'It's been pretty cold but it's also been pretty cool. I've only been in London for one month and it's a dream come true to be here.'
Miss Sosa added: 'It's amazing. I've never thought I would be here to see this.'
Kimberley Harvey, 20, from north London, said: 'We've been here since 8pm and we've been dancing all night. I've never been here before even though I live in London. I love it. I've had a great time.'
Joelle Peeters, 43, and her son Tom, 12, travelled from Brussels to spend New Year's Eve in London.
She said: 'I love the fireworks. We spent the last two New Years in Paris, but this was far better. It was well worth the wait, even if it has been very cold.'
GREECE: The Acropolis shines like a beacon under the glow of fireworks
NEW ZEALAND: Auckland's Sky Tower is brought to life
Forecasters said temperatures in central London were hovering around 1C at midnight and were likely to drop to freezing later.
Yet while most revellers will merely be waking up this morning with sleepy eyes and a hangover, some have seen in the first day of the New Year after being arrested by police for their taking their celebrations too far.
Scotland Yard made 78 arrests in London during the night, while councils across Britain will be counting the cost of clean-up operations.
Cardiff: Police arrest one reveller in the centre of the city in the early hours
Around 3,300 officers were involved in the Met's New Year's policing operation, along with the British Transport Police and other emergency services.
Of the 78 arrests, 39 were for public order offences; 18 for assault; 10 for drunk and disorderly; three for carrying offensive weapons; two each for drugs, sexual offences and theft; one for robbery; and one for obstructing police.
And cities across the globe will also be united by one common factor - the cost of the clean-up operation.
Mess New Year: A clean-up worker sweeps up in New York's Times Square after the celebrations
Source: Daily Mail Uk.
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