A record number of police officers will be on the beat tomorrow night to ensure the Millennium Eve celebrations go off without a hitch, writes Karen Rosine.

Oxfordshire is gearing up for the biggest night of parties as the turn of the century is almost upon us - and hundreds of police will be on patrol making sure all goes well.

All police leave, except for some specialist staff, has been cancelled.

Firework displays, huge street parties and glitzy balls have been organised across the county to mark the occasion.

Most pubs and clubs are ticket only but any which are open to the public are expected to do a roaring trade. Richard Goodfellow, a spokesman for Thames Valley Police, said: "We have got more police officers on than we have ever had in our whole history. We have 3,800 officers working across the Thames Valley - hundreds in Oxfordshire, and the vast majority will be working on one shift or another tomorrow, January 1 and 2.

"They are there to ensure public safety and ensure that everyone has a good time and returns home in one piece.

"There will be a large police presence at the main points of celebration such as Carfax Tower, Oxford, Banbury Cross and in Henley."

Parties are planned right across the county, from events in village halls to pubs and churches to house parties. In Oxford, the main organised celebration will be a Millennium Ball for about 200 revellers at the Oxford Harlequins Rugby Club in Marston Ferry Road.

A sequence of bonfire and brazier beacons will be lit in communities throughout the UK - 11 in Oxfordshire - and there will also be bell-ringing events across the county.

In Abingdon, a Millennium Ball is being held with more than 300 tickets sold and 600 people are expected to dance the night away at a party in the centre of Charlbury.

A large musical event is being held in Wallingford featuring music, drama, handbell-ringing, singing and dancing. The highlight in Didcot will be the lighting of the Millennium beacon on Ladygrove.

Warnings have been given that extra supplies of illegal drugs are being stockpiled for the big night - and some are dangerously adulterated.

Mr Goodfellow said: "We would advise people not to take drugs.

"There will be more officers than ever before and dealers will be targeted."

Story date: Thursday 30 December

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