Cities erupt in revelry to bring in 2006

Cities across the world erupted in colour and festivities yesterday, as revellers from London to Lima took to the streets to see in the New Year.

Hundreds of thousands of people sweltered in balmy 20C and above temperatures at midnight for the city's biggest-ever fireworks display.

A giant red heart lit up the Sydney Harbour Bridge as fireworks blasted above. Police, who feared trouble following race riots last month, said arrests were down on previous years.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the celebrations showed the rest of the world Sydney had moved on from the riots.

An Underground strike failed to deter Londoners from the party, as thousands heard Big Ben chime midnight and watched a trademark fireworks display over the London Eye.

In New York, many thousands swarmed into Times Square, undeterred by cold, wet weather and tight security. Police were expecting 1 million people to gather for the New Year.

Surpassing that was Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, where more than 2 million people were expected to jam Copacabana Beach.

In Japan, more than 14,000 people climbed the 3775m Mount Fuji and other mountains before dawn to see the first sunrise of the new year.

Meanwhile, youths burned cars in scattered unrest in France, where police were mobilised to prevent a repeat outburst of rioting that broke out this autumn. The Government reported 249 vehicles burned, including 84 in the Ile-de-France region that includes Paris. Police took 121 people into custody throughout France.