The biggest party night of the year was one of the busiest for Brighton and Hove police.

Officers were handling almost ten high-priority emergency calls an hour between 11pm on New Year's Eve and 7am yesterday.

Brighton and Hove was described as "extremely busy", mainly because of fights, minor assaults and public order offences as revellers left pubs and clubs.

Extra officers were on duty to cope with Brighton and Hove's celebrations, which were unaffected by the extreme weather that wrecked many New Year events in Scotland, the North and the Midlands.

By 2.25am yesterday, all 36 cells available to Brighton and Hove Police were full, as were custody suites at Crawley, Eastbourne and Worthing.

Prisoners had to be taken to Chichester and Hastings, where there were still a handful of vacant cells.

Sergeant Jason Hazzard of Brighton and Hove police, said: "Virtually every cell block was full at 2.25am. Brighton had an extremely busy night."

Police in riot gear broke up a rave on the Freshfield industrial estate, Brighton, after ravers complained they were having difficulties getting out.

About 200 people were escorted from the building at 2am when organisers agreed to stop the partying.

A second rave, at a disused factory in Sussex Place, Brighton, was reported at 7am. About 75 people were still inside at 10.30am.

Champagne corks were popping in a more conventional fashion elsewhere.

At Hickstead, 250 revellers celebrated in style at a black tie ball.

Organiser Rebecca Swan said: "It was a really good night. Everything was included in the £125 ticket price, down to transport to and from the party.

"People came from all over, Brighton, Worthing, Crawley, Haywards Heath."

Flappers and gangsters counted down to midnight at a Twenties ball in Worthing. Guests danced the Charleston and 25 women formed an impromptu pompom troop.

Revellers at The Grand hotel in Brighton had traditional haggis and neeps at 12.30am after seeing in the new year with champagne.

Deputy general manager Nancy Mollett said: "People were still enjoying themselves at 6am yesterday."

More than 120 revellers saw in the New Year at the Orange Square in Haywards Heath.

Clubs were a popular way to start 2004 in Brighton and Hove, including The Honeyclub's Fancy Dress Ball, which went on until 6am, and Stompaphunk at The Funky Buddha Lounge.