Heavy winds are battering the coast of Blackpool proving just why a planned fireworks display was cancelled.

An update on the Visit Blackpool website said the rest of the New Year’s Eve Family Party would still go ahead in the Lancashire seaside resort, with a projection show on the tower to mark the start of the new year.

The A832 Fortrose to Avoch in Black Isle is closed due to a landslide.

Police Scotland received reports of the landslide at 8.30am on Tuesday, 31 December, affecting both sides of the road.

The force said the road is likely to remain closed for some time. “Motorists should plan ahead and follow diversions.”

The organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay have issued an apology to tourists who have travelled to the Scottish capital for the midnight fireworks display.

An Indian tourist who travelled with his wife and four children to Edinburgh for the celebrations told Good Morning Britain they are “very disappointed”.

He added: “We were in London and we came here just for Hogmanay.”

Another visitor described the decision as “heart-breaking”, while his travel companion added: “It’s super disappointing. We are trying to figure out something else to do but we are totally clueless.”

Scottish Culture Secretary Angus Robertson defended the “undoubtedly” correct decision to cancel.

He told Radio 4’s Today programme: “The organisers believe that they took the decision quite early for the reason that they wanted to be able to communicate to people who have been travelling now.

“I would stress whilst it is hugely disappointing that the events as planned in Princes Street, in the old town, over by the castle, the concert by Texas and so on, are not going ahead, there will be lots happening in Edinburgh.

“There will be all kinds of events, the pubs and clubs will be open.

“I’m truly sorry for everybody who has travelled but I think given the extent of the weather forecast – it’s really, really bad in some parts of the country – it’s not the right thing to proceed.”

The Met Office warned “blizzard conditions are possible”, especially in the far northern regions of Sutherland and Caithness.

A 24-hour yellow warning for rain will come into force across much of Wales and north-west England from 6pm on Tuesday.

The wild weather is wreaking havoc across the country this New Year’s Eve marring celebrations for millions.

List of New Year’s Eve displays cancelled so far:

• Two fireworks displays planned for 6pm and midnight on Newcastle’s Quayside have been cancelled because of the weather.
• Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party, outdoor concert and fireworks display were cancelled amid fears over public safety.
• A planned fireworks display in Blackpool has been cancelled because of expected high winds with a projection expected to illuminate Blackpool tower
• A New Year’s Eve fireworks event in Ripon, North Yorkshire, has been cancelled because of the weather.
• A planned fireworks display in Blackpool has been cancelled because of expected high winds, organisers said.
• Rotary Club of Lyme Regis has also cancelled its Lyme Lunge sea dip on Wednesday because of forecast winds of 50-60mph and it said in a statement: “I think you will all agree that we must put the safety of Lungers first.”
• A homemade boat race set to be held in Poole, Dorset, on New Year’s Day has been cancelled because of the expected poor weather.
• Claremont Pier was due to host a funfair, food stalls, live music but the event will now happen a few days later.

On New Year’s Eve, an amber rain warning is in force in the Highlands and Moray until 5pm and a yellow warning for snow and rain covers most of Scotland until midnight, which “may bring significant disruption in the build up to new year”.

Forecasters said delays to all types of transport are “likely” on New Year’s Eve as strong winds persist and may reach speeds of up to 70mph in parts of England and Northern Ireland.

Parts of central and southern Scotland and northern England are covered by a yellow warning for wind from 7am until 11pm, with a separate wind warning covering Northern Ireland from 6am until 2pm.

A 24-hour yellow warning for rain will come into force across much of Wales and north-west England from 6pm on Tuesday.

A yellow warning for snow is in place until midnight in Orkney and Shetland.

Darryl Fleming – the man organising London’s New Year’s Eve spectacular has been monitoring the weather for the past seven days so he can deliver the event “as safely as possible”.

“The big enemy is the wind, so we have to plan for that in the design stage,” he told the BBC.

“The wind direction is in the right direction, and if we need to curtail parts of the show, we can do that, we have all those plans in place,” he adds.

“We don’t have massive big shells that have a high chance of being taken out of a show.

“From a broadcast point of view nobody is really going to see the difference and everybody will still enjoy the show.”

Two fireworks displays planned for 6pm and midnight on Newcastle’s Quayside have been cancelled because of the weather.

Winds that could approach 70mph have put paid to plans for the Northern powerhouse’s first new year fireworks display since 2019.

Newcastle City Council said: “Safety always comes first, and the forecast has made it clear that continuing would pose risks to those attending, as well as our event teams working on-site.

“Newcastle’s Quayside is a special place to mark New Year’s Eve, and we understand how disappointing this news will be for both residents and visitors, including those who’ve travelled to our city.

“We’re incredibly proud of the community spirit Newcastle always shows, and we hope everyone can still find ways to safely welcome 2025 with family and friends.

“We’d like to thank everyone for their understanding and patience, and we wish you all a very safe and happy new year.”

A New Year’s Eve fireworks event in Ripon, North Yorkshire, has been cancelled because of the weather.

Gusts could reach 70 mph in a few exposed areas across North Yorkshire, the Met Office warned.

On its Facebook page, Ripon City Council said: “Unfortunately we have had to take the decision to cancel our New Year’s Event on the Market Square due to the high winds forecast and yellow weather warning.

“We wish you a very happy and safe New Year.”