‘Fairer weather is on its way for Hogmanay party’

ORGANISERS of Edinburgh’s three-day Hogmanay celebrations are urging the 75,000 revellers expected in the city to stay safe and keep warn as final preparations continue for the event.

Nearly 900 police officers and security stewards will be on duty on New Year’s Eve in central Edinburgh, with Graham Sinclair, assistant chief constable of the Lothian and Borders force warning that any disorder will be dealt with firmly.

The Met Office has said that the celebrations are unlikely to be gripped by harsh weather conditions, with the strong winds and rain of the next  few days likely to clear up by New Year’s Eve.

However, Graeme Forrester, of the Met Office, warned that the annual torch lit procession tomorrow that begins the  three-day celebrations could  be a “bit damp”.

He said: “It looks like being a windy and wet few days, but by the time of Hogmanay there will be fairer weather with a lighter wind. On Hogmanay there will be strong winds at  the start of the day, but there will be a fairer picture by the time we get to the evening.”