SCOTLAND celebrated the start of 2012 with the world's biggest Hogmanay street party and fireworks displays and events across other cities and towns.

Edinburgh had a £27 million windfall as 80,000 people from around the world crammed into Princes Street to bring in the bells. Revellers were praised by the police for their behaviour after there were only three arrests for breaches of the peace within the official area.

Scottish rockers Primal Scream, Sons & Daughters, The Vaccines and DJ Mark Ronson headlined the all-ticket event.

At midnight, the fireworks provided a breathtaking spectacle to welcome in 2012 with the longest display in the 19-year history of the event.

The Scottish Ambulance Service dealt with fewer calls across the country than last year – 2666 compared with 3141 in 2011 – but more than half were dealt with after the bells.

Hundreds of hardy swimmers yesterday plunged into the River Forth after the sold-out Loony Dook began with a Dookers Parade through South Queensferry, featuring pipers and a host of entertainment.

At Rhu Marina, Argyll and Bute, about 200 swimmers took part in a New Year Swim, and at Loch Ken, in Dumfries and Galloway, dozens of swimmers took part in a seasonal dip.

Pete Irvine, managing director of Unique Events – which organised the Edinburgh street party in conjunction with the city council – said: "We are delighted with the success of the event. Every arena was absolutely packed. We had more bands than ever before, more stages and more fireworks.

"The city is full, hotels are full. We are probably the only city in the UK which was really busy on January 1."

Elsewhere on Hogmanay, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Eddi Reader headlined at Stirling Castle.

Inverness held what was billed as the "largest free Hogmanay party in Scotland", a five-hour event featuring bands and fireworks.

Aberdeen had a free firework display from the roof of His Majesty's Theatre in the city centre.

More than 8000 revellers braved the chilly weather in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, for the historic fireball swinging celebration. The tradition dates from pagan times and was believed to ward off evil spirits from the old year.

In Glasgow, however, official events were curtailed at 10pm.

Despite the early finish, the daytime family-friendly event held on Hogmanay attracted 10,000 people to the city's George Square – more than double the number that attended the previous year's evening event. Entertainment was provided by John Carmichael and Reel Time ceilidh bands, Clanadonia and the Williamwood Pipe Band. There were also Highland dancers and street artist performers.

Glasgow announced mid-2011 that it was scrapping its Hogmanay celebrations, largely on cost grounds but also to focus on its Christmas festivities and to avoid having to compete with Edinburgh's global branding.

Glasgow City Council said it was now concentrating on attracting families into the city centre during the day and letting private venues entertain the crowds at night.

One source said: "Bringing back the official evening George Square event will always be under consideration, but Edinburgh does Hogmanay really well and to compete requires putting in money which we're not able to do.

"There's also the attraction of doing something a little different, which is why we've done Christmas really well again, and our marketing efforts now go into getting families into the city centre."

But opposition politicians want Glasgow to reverse its decision to scrap the George Square event in light of another Edinburgh success.

LibDem councillor Alex Dingwall said: "Glasgow is Scotland's biggest city. We attract major events such as the Mobos, have our dedicated marketing bureau and want to be taken seriously as a key international player. It's bizarre then that we can't even muster up a Hogmanay event."

A spokesman for Glasgow Life, said: "Once again the people of Glasgow showed they know how to party as they turned up in their thousands to enjoy the Hogmanay day celebrations in George Square."

Hoteliers enjoyed a boost to occupancy rates with 90% of rooms filled over the New Year compared to 85% last year.

Meanwhile, an overnight search operation failed to find a man seen jumping from a bridge just a few hundred yards from where thousands of people were out celebrating New Year's Eve in Newcastle.

A helicopter and a fire service launch searched the River Tyne in the city centre but could find no trace of the man.

In Sheffield, a murder investigation was under way after a man died at a private club's New Year party attended by more than 400 people.