2004 - the party starts!

Fireworks lit up the night's sky as more than a million New Year revellers packed into Sydney Harbour to welcome 2004.

Partygoers and families arrived hours in advance to get the best view and were rewarded with a non-stop, night-long display which preceded a magnificent grand finale to ring in the New Year - lasting 15 minutes.

As part of a massive security operation in preparation for the multi-million-pound celebrations, police closed all roads in the area as eager spectators crowded the city in anticipation of the most famous fireworks show in the world.

Tactical response teams also scoured Sydney's streets as a result of fears of a terrorist outrage.

Australian partygoers were the first in the world to celebrate the New Year with Kuala Lumpur, Thailand, and Beijing set to follow soon after.

But in London, a three-minute fireworks display tonight was overshadowed by police warnings urging revellers to stay away and instead watch the celebrations on television.