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`Big Brother' duo join New Year revels

A RAINY New Year's Eve reduced Pembrokeshire's number of open-air revellers and helped to cut down crime in the county.

Although thousands of people were in celebratory mood, many waited until minutes before midnight to go outside pubs, clubs and private houses to see in 2004. But Fishguard - riding high on its national newspaper reputation as the third best place to celebrate the New Year - bucked the county trend.

Crowds shrugged off the weather to enjoy live entertainment in the Square, where dancing went on into the early hours. Around 3,000 people joined in the fun, among them `Big Brother' stars Alex Sibley, who finished third in the 2002 series, and Melanie Hill, who was in the 2000 programme.

Pembrokeshire's celebrations provided an extra boost for tourism, with visitors coming from all over Britain to share in the county's special New Year atmosphere, which included several January 1st swims.

As midnight drew near, crowds also gathered in Tenby's Tudor Square and on Saundersfoot Harbour, and were rewarded with a brief respite from the rain.

Police reckoned that between 3,500 and 4,000 people, many in fancy dress, were out in Tenby's Tudor Square, although this was around half of the usual fine-weather figure. And several hundred congregated on Saundersfoot Harbour to be treated to a simultaneous trio of fireworks displays.

Police made 20 arrests throughout the Pembrokeshire division with the majority being drink-related, said Superintendent Euros Lewis. Offences over New Year's Eve and the early hours of New Year's Day included assault, criminal damage and public order. Said Superintendent Lewis, who was the senior officer on New Year's Eve duty: "The incidents were sporadic throughout the county, and were not significantly more than we would expect on a busy Friday or Saturday night."

He praised revellers for their good-natured celebrations, and also licensees and their staff for the way they controlled their large volumes of customers.

Although pubs could have remained open through the night until 11am on New Year's Day, many closed at around 2am, with a small number saying goodbye to their last customers up until about 5am, added Superintendent Lewis.

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