Nae Night Afore Fiesta this year because of the tightening of financial belts,but record crowds turn out for the Torchlight procession, a estimated attendance of almost 25,000 turned out for the start of Edinburgh's New Year celebrations. Five thousand torches were purchased at £6-£7 each,raising a great deal of money for the charities Radio Forth Cash for Kids and Barnardo’s Scotland.

The procession which starts in Parliament Square next to St Giles and makes its way down the Mound along Princes Street and up to Calton hill,lead by a group of local Vikings where a large wicker Viking Galley was set ablaze which was followed by a superb Fireworks display.