The London Daily News

News Desk

Central London witnessed the best in American bandstand music, with what organisers of the New Years Day Parade in London have described the "best yet".

Dan Kirkby, communications director of London's New Year's Day Parade, said: 'The 26th New Year's Day Parade here in London is a wonderful platform for a fantastic city.

'The first day of 2012, a legendary year for London, and we have got 8,500 performers from all over the world, 19 London boroughs represented, half a million people out on the streets. It's a fantastic day.

'The atmosphere is amazing, it's a great family feast of entertainment and it's all free.

'We have got people from Afghanistan, France, Italy, China, USA and UK performing here today. We've got a huge eclectic kaleidoscope of culture.

'Without doubt this has been the best parade we've done yet, it's a turn of year tradition now and the whole world is watching.'

Over 500,000 people were thought to have watched the London parade which started near Parliament and ended in Green Park.

Photo credit:  Natalie Mitrides