Birmingham New Year's Eve fireworks set to be the best yet

Dec 31 2009 by Rebekah Oruye, Birmingham Mail

REVELLERS in Birmingham can see the new year in with a bang at a free fireworks display in the city centre.

Birmingham City Council organised the five-minute show which will light up the skies above Victoria Square, Chamberlain Square and Centenary Square at midnight tonight.

For those wanting a closer view of the spectacle, the Birmingham Mail wheel will be open until 1am.

The fireworks display will mark the end of a busy and successful year for Birmingham and the council’s leisure, sport and culture teams.

Some of the highlights include a record number of visitors to the Frankfurt Christmas market, more than 270,000 attending Artsfest events and over 60,000 people visiting Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery during the 19 days the Staffordshire Hoard was on display.

And from 11.50pm to 12.10am, Holliday Street from Berkley Street to Suffolk Street Queensway and the whole length of Bridge Street will be closed.

Access to entertainment venues in these areas will be permitted from Sheepcote Street down to Gas Street during the event.

Taxis will be located at the rank by the ICC and will have access along Broad Street via the usual Gas Street and Berkley Street loop whilst the road closures are in operation. For more details visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/christmas