NEW Year revellers spotted flouting the drinking ban on the streets of Bolton could find themselves celebrating the early hours of 1999 - in police cells.

Hundreds of people are expected to join the celebrations on Victoria Square in Bolton town centre tonight.

But today police chiefs warned that the drinking ban will be rigorously enforced.

Extra police - including officers from GMP's mounted section - will join the team on duty in Bolton town centre tonight.

The New Year celebrations have been trouble free in Bolton for several years and police chiefs are hoping the trend will continue.

"Although there are no special events in the town centre this year, we hope people will still come along to celebrate the arrival of the New Year," said Supt David Chetwynd.

He added: "The aim of the police operation is to ensure that people, including families, enjoy the arrival of the New Year tonight in the knowledge that the are perfectly safe and the celebrations throughout the town centre are trouble free."

One in four Britons will be bringing in the New Year at a party, according to a survey today.

People in the North-west are the biggest party-goers with nearly a third getting together tonight.

At the other end of the scale, all but 12pc of people in Wales prefer to celebrate at home, the survey says.

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