MILLENNIUM celebrations in Brighton have received a huge boost with news of a £120,000 grant.

It will enable the town to stage the biggest New Year's Eve bash in the South and link up with the French town of Amiens.

Street performers and musicians from Amiens will perform at the celebrations following the cash injection from the European Regional Development Fund's Intereg project, which aims to promote cultural tourism.

More than 50,000 people are expected to be at Old Steine on December 31.

The event's organisers, Zap Productions, also hope for a live media link-up between Brighton and France, possibly with big screens in each town being switched on just before the clocks strike midnight.

Zap's director, Dave Reeves, said: "Last year's New Year's Eve, when we got about 10,000 people going to the Brighton celebration, was just a dress rehearsal.

"This year is going to be much bigger and have a definite French flavour. For lots of people the millennium is a very spiritual event and it's great to be able to share it."

Amiens already has strong cultural links here because of its regular involvement in the Arts de La Rue (street arts) section of the Brighton Festival.

Brighton and Hove Council leader Lord Bassam said: "We want it to be bigger and better this year and it's great to have a European dimension."

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