SUB-ZERO temperatures didn't chill the spirits of thousands of York revellers who partied in the streets to welcome in 2002.

Pubs and clubs across the city centre were packed through the evening and into the early hours - though none are thought to have taken advantage of a possible 36-hour licence.

Stuart Weston, landlord of the Golden Lion, in Church Street, said: "We stopped serving at 1am. We had a brilliant night. Everyone was in a good mood and there wasn't even a hint of any trouble."

By 11.30pm, huge crowds had begun to swarm to the area around the Minster to see in the New Year.

By 11.45pm the area was packed with rowdy, but good natured, party people.

Fireworks whizzed through the air and Champagne corks popped, before the Minster bells began to ring - triggering a huge roar from the revellers.

One reveller 24-year-old Thomas Hutchinson, of Lawrence Street, York, described the atmosphere as "brilliant".

He said: "It doesn't matter that it's freezing, everyone is in a good mood and out to enjoy themselves.

"That's what New Year is all about. Here's to 2002."

Another, Greg Halfpenny, of Hampden Street, York, said: "Last year was a tough year in a lot of ways but it was also the year England beat Germany 5-1.

"I'd take that again in 2002."

There was a moment of drama for the Minster throng, when three fire appliances crawled through the crowds with blue lights flashing at about 12.15am.

"Smoke" had been seen coming from the roof of nearby St Michael-le-Belfry Church - but it turned out to be steam coming from a boiler.

"It's a false alarm, but with good intention. It's not the first time it's happened," said a firefighter.

Police said a number of public order incidents had taken place across the city, but these were isolated and of a minor nature.

There were no incidents around the Minster itself.

A spokesman said: "There were a number of arrests - we had 25 in the cells at one point - but the incidents were isolated, and there were no major fights or bust-ups.

"Basically, it was what we expected for New Year's Eve and people behaved themselves reasonably well on the whole."

Police in Ryedale reported a "quiet" New Year's Eve, with only two arrests in the area, while in Selby police said the night was "reasonably peaceful".

Updated: 10:18 Wednesday, January 02, 2002