Extra firearms officers for London new year celebrations

Thousands of police, including extra firearms officers, are on duty for New Year's celebrations in central London amid heightened security in Europe's capital cities.

It comes after New Year's Eve fireworks in Brussels were cancelled because of threats of an extremist attack.

Police in Munich warned of a planned terror attack and asked people to avoid crowds.

Tens of thousands attended events in UK cities including London and Edinburgh.

Spectacular firework displays greeted the start of 2016 on the banks of the Thames in London and above Edinburgh Castle.

Fireworks lit up the sky at Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh

The Met said about 3,000 officers helped police New Year's Eve celebrations in central London

Policing plans in London are "purely precautionary", the Met has said

'Extraordinary circumstances'

Scotland Yard said there were about 3,000 officers in central London for the sold-out fireworks display.

Superintendent Jo Edwards, of the Metropolitan Police, said their plans remained "under constant review" and were "purely precautionary and not as a result of any specific intelligence".

She denied reports that leave for police had been cancelled.

Superintendent Andy Morgan, silver commander at the British Transport Police, said the force would be extending armed patrols and would have officers at train and Tube stations across London.

Across Paris, the scene of terror attacks in November, around 11,000 police officers, soldiers and firefighters were mobilised as people gathered to celebrate the new year.

One former Met commander told the BBC that he felt the new year celebrations in London should have been cancelled.

John O'Connor, a former commander with the Met's flying squad, said: "The norm has changed now."

"It's just too dangerous, I think.

"And we're at a stage now where we've got to face up to the fact that we are in all-out civilian confrontation with terrorists who are utterly ruthless."

In Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations got under way with a torchlight procession

In Scotland tens of thousands of people gathered in Edinburgh city centre where Biffy Clyro headlined the sold-out Concert in the Gardens.

As many as 75,000 revellers, from more than 80 countries, are thought to have attended a street party in the city.

Elsewhere, a firework display was held in Aberdeen where about 3,000 people joined in celebrations in the city centre.

In Wales the annual Calennig festivities were cancelled but there was live music and fireworks in Cardiff.

In Dublin a three-day New Year's Eve festival featuring live music and a procession of light was held.

On New Year's Day, more than 8,500 performers representing 20 countries will take part in an annual parade through London.

The event, which includes marching bands, cheerleaders, clowns and acrobats, kicks off in Piccadilly and finishes in Parliament Square, taking in Lower Regent Street, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall.