HUNDREDS of revellers gathered in the shadow of York Minster to wave farewell to 2013 and welcome the New Year.

The traditional gathering outside the cathedral attracted its usual large crowd, but North Yorkshire Police said New Year celebrations across the region passed peacefully, with no major crimes being reported.

Between the strike of New Year and mid-morning on New Year’s Day, the force had received 359 calls to incidents across its area, which it said was in line with previous New Years.

Of these, 109 were in York and 31 in Selby, with most being for disorder – some of it drink-related – criminal damage, domestic incidents and antisocial behaviour.

A spokesman for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it dealt with a high volume of calls across the county.

New Year’s Day started slightly busier than last year for ambulance staff, with four per cent more incidents between midnight and 8am than last year, said the spokesman.

New Year celebration pictures>>