In London, thousands of people have taken to the streets as part of the annual New Year's Day Parade.

North of the border, hardy swimmers have kick-started their 2024 by taking a dip in Scotland's ice-cold waters as part of the popular Loony Dook.

In England's capital, the much-loved parade along the West End featured a whole raft of performers, including marching bands, cheerleaders and acrobats.

The event - headlined this year by 90's pop legend Chesney Hawkes - attracts thousands of participants from across the globe, with hundreds of thousands of spectators expected to watch from the roadside.

Dan Kirkby, communications director of the parade, told Sky News during the festivities: "It never fails to absolutely blow my socks off.

"I think this event is the best we've ever done in 38 years of the London New Year's Day Parade.

"And I've got to say, I think the crowds are very enthusiastic. It's not the warmest day in the world, but they're having a great time, they really are."

Mr Kirkby believes the event will bring around £200m to the "coffers of the capital".

He added: "And it's a window to the world for the whole world to see what a great city we have here.

"So, it's perpetuating a lot of travel, a lot of tourism, and [it's] a great day out - and it's free."

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Meanwhile in Scotland, daredevils took a dip in the Firth of Forth as part of the annual Loony Dook.

Swimmers made a splash in the morning at Kinghorn in Fife, with further fun in South Queensferry in the afternoon.

The dook, a Scots word meaning to dip or bathe, started in the 1980s after friends Andy Kerr and Jim Kilcullen went for a swim in icy waters to stave off their hangover from the night before.

The following year, they decided to repeat their escapade for charity.

Money raised from the popular event is donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and other local charities.