New Year celebrations will be family friendly

REVELLERS will be spoilt for choice tonight (Wednesday) as both Barnstaple and Bideford prepare to pull out all the stops to celebrate New Year's Eve. In Barnstaple, organisers are hoping to capitalise on the success of last year, with live music, firewor

REVELLERS will be spoilt for choice tonight (Wednesday) as both Barnstaple and Bideford prepare to pull out all the stops to celebrate New Year's Eve.In Barnstaple, organisers are hoping to capitalise on the success of last year, with live music, fireworks and entertainment in The Square for what has been billed as a "family friendly" event.Bideford, still recognised as one of the top New Year destinations in the UK, will once again see its streets thronged with costumed partygoers, before thousands descend on the Quay at midnight for the countdown to 2009.Live bands, entertainment, refreshments and family fun will be on offer in Barnstaple from 9pm until 1am as organisers bid to top the estimated crowd of 7,000-8,000 seen last year and raise even more money for both the North Devon and Children's hospices.Sam Dowden, The Milli Taylor Band and high-flying Barnstaple rock band Mendella will entertain, along with Lantern FM's Chapple and PJ.The Mayor, Councillor Jeremy Phillips will lead a countdown of the final seconds of 2008 and then hit the button to set of a spectacular midnight firework display."We want to make this year even better so we can collect even more for charity," said Ian Roome, chairman of the NYE Charity Events Committee."The stage is bigger, we have a great line up and this time the road closures will be in force throughout."All roads leading to The Square will be closed, as will the Longbridge and there are no alternative routes. Drivers should avoid the area altogether, using the Western Bypass and new bridge instead.The event is being organised to raise money for North Devon Hospice and Children's Hospice South West.Local county councillors Brian Greenslade and Chris Haywood have contributed £1,000 from their county committee budgets.Acting Sergeant Earl Napier has been working as police liaison on the family orientated event: "We want to replicate last year's success and very low crime levels," he said. "In the interests of safety in The Square area, we would remind people not to bring any glasses or bottle - especially champagne bottles - with them."Visit www.barnstaplenewyearseve.co.uk for more information about the event.In Bideford, more than 10,000 people are expected to gather on the quayside, almost all in fancy dress.Helping them celebrate this year will be the former Radio One Roadshow lorry, which has been bought by local businessman Steve Clarke.He has spent three months getting the 40ft trailer back in shape to put on a special show for Bideford, complete with six-metre square stage, lighting effects and DJ booth.The roadshow will start on The Quay opposite JUbilee Square from around 6.30pm and the early hours will be devoted to providing special entertainment for youngsters and families, with a programme of fun and games and prizes for children's fancy dress.The show will be hosted by TV presenter Seth Conway and continue into the night with DJ Jude, local singer Della and a mixed bag of live music acts.Food and drink stalls along The Quay will help refresh the revellers as the fun continues through the night and into the early hours of 2009.As the thousands of costumed revellers throng The Quay as midnight approaches, a lone piper will take the stage to welcome in the new year and a big clock will count down the seconds.Midnight will herald a spectacular firework display from across the river at Brunswick Wharf.The celebrations are being funded by the town council and supported by volunteers.Inspector Sean Kenneally said the celebrations last year had been maintained in a good spirit and police hoped for more of the same tonight."Once again we would urge people to drink from plastic containers and any glasses or glass bottles found on the Quay will be taken off them," he said."Drink sensibly and enjoy yourselves but don't spoil it for others.