31/12/2015 BBC News

A huge fire engulfs a luxury hotel in central Dubai -

hours before the New Year celebrations.

The building - more than 60 storeys high -

quickly became a burning inferno, a terrifying scene for those

We saw this huge plume of black smoke.

Before we knew it the whole of the Address Hotel was covered

The cause of the blaze remains unclear.

We'll have the latest from the scene.

The clean-up operation starts across the UK after the widespread

Police in Brussels detain three people in connection with an alleged

terror plot to target the city's New Year celebrations.

And a new dame at the House of Windsor - the EastEnders

and Carry On star tops the celebrity list of this year's New Year's

A huge fire has broken out in a high-rise luxury

hotel in central Dubai - close to the world's tallest

It erupted as Dubai prepared to hold a major

Officials said the fire began on the 20th floor.

So far there are people reported lightly injured but no casualties.

Here's our correspondent Bridget Kendall.

Literally a towering Inferno, an intense blaze sweeping through one

of Dubai's luxury downtown hotel. A dramatic and terrifying picture, but

hardly what the crowds had come for. The blaze broke out less than three

hours before the city's planned spectacular New Year fireworks

display. Just a few metres away from the Burj Khalifa, the world's

tallest building, the fire apparently started on the hotel's

20th floor. Before long, flames engulfed the side of the 63 storey

building, sending out billowing smoke and scattering blazing debris.

Inside, one resident said of the alarms went off, there was absolute

pandemonium as people rushed to get out of the building. Amazingly with

the help of fire brigade and civil defence teams it seems everyone was

evacuated. Officials said apart from one person who suffered a heart

attack, there were only moderate and light injuries. One jazz singer was

performing inside the hotel as the blaze started. Absolutely stampede,

it was incredible. I was actually never so terrified. All the women,

all the glamorous took off their high heels and ran. We left

everything. There was debris falling down. It shot up through the entire

hotel. Everyone was screaming and running. I thought this was a film.

The wind was strong tonight and the smoke and fire took hold of the

whole building right through. I can't imagine it not being in the

interior. After little more than an hour the fire subsided. What caused

it isn't clear. There's been no sign it was deliberate despite fears

around the world of possible terrorist attacks. And the Dubai

authorities didn't want to stop the party. At midnight the celebrations

went ahead, but it won't be the fireworks that the start of 2016

will be remembered for, but a massive hotel fire which

miraculously did not cause more injuries.

Clean-up operations are underway across the UK after the flooding

North-east Scotland - hard hit by yesterday's storm -

faces more heavy rain at the weekend.

There's also been travel disruption, with the West Coast Main Line

between Carlisle and Glasgow closed because of a damaged viaduct.

After being battered by rain and gales, Scotland has been taking

In Ballater in the Cairngorms, there is widespread destruction.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall came to talk

This was the A93 on Deeside, swallowed by the water,

leaving a huge repair bill and weeks of work.

Further south in Newton Stewart, it was a similar picture.

Debbie Scott was just one of many people trying

to salvage their waterlogged belongings.

This was one of the worst affected towns.

Scotland's First Minister came here to see for herself.

I've been talking to some residents and local businesses and this

is probably the worst flooding episode that Newton Stewart and much

of this region has experienced for some people in living memory.

Northern England missed the worst of the weather yesterday,

In Croston in Lancashire, the RAF was back in action,

lowering sandbags to shore up flood defences.

Can I shake your hands and say thank you very much.

In York today, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn came

The only people who have been here helping me is Cleveland Fire

And the Muslims brothers from Bradford and London.

And those left angry because they feel they

Do you think it makes a difference for high profile people to come?

We're getting on now and on a cleaning mission now.

But definitely, it makes a big difference for people

But after the high-profile visitors have gone, this carries on,

and the worry for people living in York and other cities affected

by flooding over the last month is that this will happen again

The hope is that the weather will hold for the next few days

at least, to allow the northern flood plains to drain

Security has been stepped up across Europe for the New Year

In France, 100,000 officers will be on duty

and a fireworks display in Paris has been called off.

In Brussels, official festivities have been abandoned

after information came to light about an alleged plot

In London, extra armed police will protect train

Daniel Boettcher is in central London for us now.

How obvious is that heightened security? Security for this event is

always tight. Both highly visible release presents both inside the

viewing area and others parts of central London. We have seen police

launches on the river and the force helicopter overhead and there are

extra armed officers that stations and other transport hubs.

Preparations for the display are almost complete. Behind me crowds

are beginning to build up. For the second year this is a ticket only

event. Just over 110,000 people were able to get those tickets. They have

come through a security point, where backs have been checked and police

have warned anybody without a ticket not to come here because they will

not be allowed in -- bikes have been checked. Daniel Boettcher.

Labour has suspended the Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk,

following newspaper allegations that he sent sexually explicit

Mr Danczuk, who is 49, said that while the story

was "not entirely accurate" his behaviour was "inappropriate".

Nearly 1200 people have been recognised in the Queen's New Year

They include well-known entertainers and sporting heroes,

as well as civil servants and others who work for the public good.

She's long been a national treasure, now she a dame.

I'm just so honoured, I'm so thrilled.

I just say thank you, and I'll do my best to be a very

good dame - and I don't mean in pantomime!

There's a knighthood for 20 time champion jockey AP McCoy.

It's very surreal, it's hard to get my head around it.

I never thought anything like that would ever be bestowed

A knighthood too for Lynton Crosby, the election strategist credited

with masterminding the Conservatives' general election

victory - an honour that's been criticised by opposition MPs.

Luther star Idris Elba becomes an OBE.

Football legend Denis Law is made a CBE.

And Fara Williams, the most capped of England's Lionesses,

As in previous years the majority of awards have gone to people not

in the public eye, many of whom never expected to be

People like James Banks, a bagpiper for 50 years.

I'm very proud to be recognised, but it's nice to see

that the instrument, the music and the general culture

and that people are taking an interest.

He's one of the hundreds being honoured for their work

That's all from us, but before we go here are some New Year's Eve

celebrations that have already happened around the world.

Good evening. We are likely to bring in the New Year on a chilly note

with