Fireworks welcome in 2012

Revellers around the world are celebrating the end of 2011 and starting to see in 2012.

Sydney held a spectacular display set to music in the city's world famous harbour.

In Tokyo, people released helium balloons in front of the Tokyo Tower at midnight with notes attached listing their hopes for 2012.

In Hong Kong the countdown to 2012 was made in giant illuminated numbers on the side of a skyscraper facing the harbour.

And Dubai welcomed 2012 with a firework display around the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

In the UK hundreds of thousands of people attended events, with fireworks at London's waterfront and Edinburgh castle heralding the new year.

Meanwhile, in Brazil, revellers enjoyed a fireworks display on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, and in the US, crowds watched New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Lady Gaga count down to midnight.