Malta’s New Year celebrations took off this evening with a big street party in St Anne Street, Floriana.

The main thoroughfare to the city became pedestrian and was lined with food stalls. Sound systems and a screen showing was what happening on stage and celebrations in other countries were also set up.

The show started at 6.30 p.m. with a New Year's Eve Parade, featuring a band and 300 dancers from various schools, accompanying the arrival of Father Christmas on a karozzin.

A live concert by the Mark Spiteri Lucas Band, with the participation of a number of singers, kicked off at nine and music will continue until the early hours.

The climax is expected to be the striking of midnight, marked by fireworks displays and a shower of confetti and balloons.

The holding of the party seemed at risk as the police objected but the council argued that it had the right to close a main road for the holding of a national event.

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