New Year 2011 fireworks at London Eye to have musical soundtrack

The Mayor signed the decision notice to authorise the annual London Eye fireworks display on Monday.

The BBC will provide a musical soundtrack for the fireworks at no cost to the Greater London Authority.

The budget has crept up from £1.6 million in 2010 to £1.8 million for the 2011 event. The pyrotechnics will cost £282,000 whilst £559,000 will be spent on crowd control for the esitmated 250,000-strong audience.

As last year, the fireworks will last 8 minutes. Previously a 10-minute display had been staged each year.

"There is something exhilarating and primal about the flashing lights and noisy explosions of a fireworks display, especially on New Year's Eve," says Boris Johnson.

"With our dazzling display we want to capture the dynamism, colour and energy that are the hallmarks of our great city.

"Some tough decisions have had to be taken this year, but as we go into 2011, let's look forward to future growth and successes ahead, embracing the opportunities of the coming year with confidence and optimism."

The report to the Mayor seeking his authorisation notes that "due to issues encountered last year in and around Blackfriars Bridge a significant addition to the crowd management plan has been required this year as far east as Southwark Bridge".

An additional 167 temporary toilets will also be provided this year.

The event will be produced once again by Jack Morton Worldwide but for the first time a UK-based company, Kimbolton, will provide the fireworks using material from China, Spain and the UK.