London's New Year's Eve fireworks to be ticketed - £10 each
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London's New Year's Eve fireworks display is to be limited to 100,000 ticketed spectators for the first time.
The event's popularity made it "untenable" to put such a strain on the capital's transport and safety infrastructure, the Mayor's office said.
The display was first staged at the London Eye on the South Bank in 2003.
Attendance grew from 100,000 in its first year to an estimated half a million at last year's event.
Boris Johnson said: "London's New Year's Eve fireworks are phenomenally popular, not just in the capital, but across the world and we want to ensure it continues to be a safe, enjoyable and sustainable event for the long-term."
A spokesman said last year's display had put "enormous strain on transport and safety infrastructure", and after consulting emergency services and Transport for London the event in its current form was found to be "untenable".
It increasing popularity meant capacity was often being reached by early evening, leaving hundreds of thousands of people unable to get a good view, with even the early arrives facing a wait of several hours and cramped conditions.
Visitors have also faced long delays after the close of the event to find their way home on public transport.
People wishing to attend this year's event will be able to book up to four tickets, costing £10 each, from 26 September at 12 noon.
The event's popularity made it "untenable" to put such a strain on the capital's transport and safety infrastructure, the Mayor's office said.
The display was first staged at the London Eye on the South Bank in 2003.
Attendance grew from 100,000 in its first year to an estimated half a million at last year's event.
Boris Johnson said: "London's New Year's Eve fireworks are phenomenally popular, not just in the capital, but across the world and we want to ensure it continues to be a safe, enjoyable and sustainable event for the long-term."
A spokesman said last year's display had put "enormous strain on transport and safety infrastructure", and after consulting emergency services and Transport for London the event in its current form was found to be "untenable".
It increasing popularity meant capacity was often being reached by early evening, leaving hundreds of thousands of people unable to get a good view, with even the early arrives facing a wait of several hours and cramped conditions.
Visitors have also faced long delays after the close of the event to find their way home on public transport.
People wishing to attend this year's event will be able to book up to four tickets, costing £10 each, from 26 September at 12 noon.
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