Fantastic display at Cromer New Year’s Day fireworks event

Thousands of people welcomed in the New Year at a spectacular fireworks display this evening which has become a 'must see' on Norfolk's January calendar.

Crowds packed Cromer's promenades and terraces hoping for the best views of a £6,500 display from the resort's iconic pier.

And Clive Casburn, of Great Massingham-based Premiere Fireworks, did not disappoint with a 15-minute riot of colour, shape and explosions which shot sideways and upwards from the structure, which has just completed a glorious 12 months as UK Pier of the Year.

Spectators, estimated at 10,000, also marvelled at glowing firework globules of red and green which fell from the skies to bob on the surface of the sea like highly-coloured water lilies.

'Having it from the pier makes it fairly distinctive and unusual, helped by the ink-black sky as a backdrop and the reflections in the sea,' said Jim Bond, chairman of the fireworks organising committee.

'It's a good display, for nothing, and a nice family evening that's on early enough to take the kids along.'

Some 100 volunteers helped stage the event, including shaking donations buckets.

The display is funded by Cromer Town Council which ploughs half the proceeds back into the following year's event and gives the rest away to local good causes.

Photographers have until January 14 to submit their Cromer fireworks pictures with a top competition prize of a 40in flat-screen TV donated by Hughes Plus. Visit cromertown.org