Past in pictures: Sidmouth welcomes in a new millennium

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

Where were you 20 years ago as the new millennium was welcomed in across the world on New Year's Eve?

Revellers in Sidmouth were out in force as they headed to the seafront to enjoy the fireworks and join in with the celebrations.

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

Fancy dress was a common theme, with costumes ranging from red devils and wolves to the Queen.

Memorable dates from 1999 include the introduction of the Euro currency in January and the last total solar eclipse in the UK in August, which was only visible from Cornwall.

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

You may recall the so-called 'millennium bug', also known as Y2K, which was in the news as problems were predicted for some computer systems being unable to handle the change in dates from 1999 to 2000.

This New Year's Eve, as Big Ben strikes 12 o'clock and heralds in a new decade, we would like to wish you a very happy new year and we hope that these pictures spark some fond memories from the last hours of 1999.

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)

New Years Eve revellers in Sidmouth celebrate the turn of the millennium. (Image: Copyright 2002)