That's all folks, says DJ Fatboy

In an exclusive interview with us the DJ, real name Norman Cook, said the only way he could be persuaded to repeat the gig would be by limiting numbers.

He said: "We probably won't do it again. I don't take safety issues lightly.

"I will only do it again if we can guarantee people's safety and if that many people are going to come we can't."

The DJ said the beach just wasn't big enough for the quarter of a million people who descended on Brighton and the gig wouldn't be the same anywhere else.

He added: "For me it was a fantastic event but I did have a bit of a wobble.

"I felt very stressed because at one point I thought my nightmare scenario, that I might be responsible for someone being hurt or killed, was coming true."

Last night, the parents of nurse Karen Manders were flying to Britain to be at the bedside of their daughter, who is fighting for her life.

Miss Manders, from Australia but living in London, had been sitting on a railing when she toppled backwards and fell onto the Lower Esplanade, suffering head and spine injuries.

About 160 people were injured during the night. Seventy were treated at the scene and 11 were taken to hospital. Of those, two suffered broken legs, one a broken back and the others lacerations from broken glass.

Another 80 made their own way to hospital to have minor injuries treated. A 40-year-old man who died from a heart attack on the night was not at the party.

Yesterday, event organisers, emergency services and council leaders met to discuss how to prevent the events of Saturday night happening again.

Police ruled out an inquiry into the event.

Superintendent Doug Rattray, of Brighton and Hove police, said problems that occurred were "fairly obvious" and an inquiry would tell organisers nothing they did not know already. He said: "I have never in my career seen anything like this. It was an amazing spectacle.

"If an event like this was to happen again we would have to look at several changes. At Edinburgh's free New Year's Eve party, people have to obtain tickets well in advance. That may be something we will have to do.

"Brighton is a very attractive place to come. A beach party at which Fatboy Slim is playing is always going to attract a lot of people. This year's estimate was based on last year's event which was very well-run. The numbers took everyone by surprise this year.

"I do not think we will ever close Brighton down as a public place for entertainment but clearly the public's safety is paramount. New measures need to be looked at."

Mr Rattray paid tribute to the crowds on Saturday night, saying there was never any sign of violence.

Opposition parties called for an inquiry into the council's handling of the event.

The Green Party called for an emergency debate at Thursday's full council meeting.

Tory group leader Brian Oxley and leisure spokesman David Smith called for a council scrutiny review of the arrangements.

They said: "We want people to have a good time but we must make safety our main priority."

Lib Dem group leader Paul Elgood said: "The council should hold an inquiry, not just into this but into the wider issue of such large events on the seafront. There was no sense of control or order."

Labour culture councillor Ian Duncan resisted calls for a public inquiry or an emergency debate.

Coun Duncan said no authority could have anticipated the numbers that arrived.

He said: "It's unfortunate there have been rumours of a death during the evening. We now believe no death did occur during the event or near it.

"We will obviously have to think very hard about this sort of event in the future."

South Central said it laid on 18 extra trains to get people out of Brighton but they were not enough.

A spokeswoman said: "We based our decision on information that 60,000 people would be attending the beach party."