Party goers have their pick of New Year bashes this year with celebrations in Newcastle leading the way.

About 38,000 people are expected to descend on Newcastle's Quayside for an event feted as the biggest New Year's Eve celebrations in England.

To kick-start the festivities, Northumberland Street will come alive from 11am with Creature Feature, a family of hairy gorillas, accompanied by intrepid explorer 'Indiana Smith'.

Shoppers will then have a chance to catch Lighthouse Theatre's giant puppets, Tango Peligroso dancing their way through the streets.

Other performances include steel bands, dance music, harmony singers, acoustic musicians, clog dancers and folk bands.

Early evening visitors to the Haymarket will then be treated to a Spanish style fire festival in which a 30 foot high Bus of Fools packed with characters from comic creation Viz will burst into flames in a dazzling pyrotechnic display.

At night, one stage on the Quayside will boast non-stop cabaret acts rounding off with the 1970s spectacular Brutus Gold Stage Show. The other will have top tunes from DJs playing the latest dance music.

Then the new Gateshead Millinnium Bridge will be at the centre of a fantastic fire work display at midnight.

Newcastle City Council leader, Tony Flynn, said: "As an authority we recognise that the fantastic programme of music and entertainment on the Quayside is the highlight of our New Year's Eve festivities."

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said extra officers would be drafted into the town centre and Quayside to deal with any disturbances.

"We have three years experience in dealing with these celebrations and work closely with the organisers throughout the planning stages."

Elsewhere in the region, processions and church services will hail the New Year.

In Durham, a procession will leave the Market Place, led by Pittington Brass Band, at 5.30pm followed by a service at the cathedral at 6.15pm.

The restored Market Place in Ripon, North Yorkshire, will be the focus of an open air celebration along with the traditional Watchnight service at the cathedral at 11.15pm.

A torchlight procession will proceed back to the market square before a firework display over the city centre on the stroke of midnight.