New Year’s Eve celebrations in Trafalgar Square have been cancelled “in the interests of public safety”, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced.

An event was being planned for 6,500 people to see in 2022.

Mr Khan said that with COVID-19 infections at “record levels” in the capital he is “determined to work closely with partners to do everything we possibly can to slow the spread of the new (Omicron) variant”.

The goal is to “ensure our NHS services are not overwhelmed this winter.”

The mayor admitted his decision would be “very disappointing for many Londoners” but said “we must take the right steps to reduce the spread of the virus”.

There will still be a “live broadcast spectacular celebrating our city and highlighting the most defining moments of 2021”, Mr Khan continued.

But he urged Londoners to watch it on television because it will not be visible from the ground.

On Saturday, the mayor declared a major incident in the capital over a “huge surge” of Omicron cases and an increase in hospital admissions.

He said it followed meetings with colleagues from the NHS, councils and the fire service.

Across the whole UK, another 8,044 cases of Omicron were reported on Monday – a third down on Sunday’s figure of 12,133.

Trafalgar Square has already been in the news recently – after this year’s Christmas tree was mocked by onlookers as “spindly” and “half dead”.

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