People have celebrated the New Year throughout the world.

Two million revellers gathered on the beach of Copacabana in Brazil, where they watched a 15-minute firework display.

In New York, a million people gathered for the New Year celebrations on Times Square. Strict security measures were in place in response to the Christmas Day bomb attempt on a Northwest plane.

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower was at the centre of a colourful light show.

In Berlin, hundreds of thousands of party goers saw the New Year in at the Brandenburger Tor.

There were no fireworks this year in Thailand, following last year’s fire in a nightclub. The Thai government had banned fireworks.

In Hong Kong, fireworks were set off from high buildings in a huge display.

In Australia, one-and-a-half million people watched a spectacular firework display on the harbour bridge.

Photo: Firework display in Sydney, Australia - Flickr/Nakú