Police chiefs have cancelled all leave for New Year's Eve to cope with possible chaos caused by revellers and the Millennium bug.

Thames Valley officers are among thousands nationwide who have been warned to cancel any plans to welcome in the year 2000 with friends and family.

Police and administrative support staff have already been told of the decision. Fire officers in the region are also expecting to be asked to work.

Many computers are only programmed using dates up to the end of 1999 and experts are working frantically to avoid a Millennium bug meltdown.

Police spokesman Bob Gray said: "All leave for both police and civilian support staff has been cancelled over several days, including New Year's Eve.

"Every year there are police officers who can't be with their families because they are working, but in 1999 a lot of people in the emergency services will all be in the same boat.

"It's hard for staff to be told that they can't be out celebrating but they do realise this decision has been taken for a good reason - to ensure the safety of the public."

Oxfordshire Fire Service's divisional officer Peter Owen-Smith said: "We have told key staff we won't be allowing them leave. Some back-room administrative staff may be able to get time off." Police, fire and ambulance bosses are now liaising with John Kelly, Oxfordshire County Council's emergency planner, who is co-ordinating contingency plans for the celebrations.

He said: "An information technology group has been working on problems which could be caused by the Millennium bug.

"On the night there will be about 1,000 county council staff on duty and the emergency operation centre will be fully staffed to co-ordinate them.

"We are confident that the computer staff will be on top of Millennium bug difficulties in the near future.

"We are talking to the unions and personnel bosses about the staffing issues."

Monthly meetings are now being held to update the emergency plan.

Story date: Monday 22 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.