Thousands of people were told to leave the city centre

A specific forecast for the city could have been obtained from the Met Office for �17.

Despite warnings since Tuesday of bad weather on Hogmanay, organisers took their forecast from Edinburgh Airport.

The city's tourism industry said it was optimistic that Edinburgh's image would not suffer as a consequence.

Tens of thousands of people who hoped to see in the New Year outdoors were forced to go home when bad weather ruined the evening.

It is important that we bounce back next year with redoubled efforts Grahame Birse Edinburgh Tourist Board

Events, including Edinburgh's fireworks over the city and a pop concert, were cancelled late into the evening.

The city's Hogmanay celebrations have a reputation of being among the best in the world and are worth �30m to the capital's economy.

Grahame Birse, of the Edinburgh Tourist Board, said: "It's the first time in 11 years there has been a cancellation of Edinburgh's Hogmanay and we don't think it will significantly dent Edinburgh's image internationally.

Safety concerns

"But it is important that we bounce back next year with redoubled efforts."

City officials defended the cancellation of the mass party saying that public safety was of "paramount" concern.

Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh's Lord Provost, said the event was affected by an unfortunate change in the weather just before it was due to start.

She said: "It was 2100 when the weather changed and that was the information we got.

"I just think we were really unlucky that the forecast didn't actually work out as it should have been and in fact the weather just got worse very very quickly."

"I hope that people understand the reasons behind our decisions and had a good night anyway."

Heavy showers

Gale-hit Aberdeen was the first to take the decision to cancel its event, which was expected to attract about 50,000 people.

In Glasgow, thousands of revellers took to the streets despite the heavy showers of rain and sleet.

The highlight was a massive concert in George Square where 25,000 revellers flocked to see headline act The Proclaimers.

Partygoers in the Highland capital of Inverness and in Stirling were treated to fireworks displays.

New Year parties in Newcastle and Liverpool were also heavily disrupted by atrocious weather.