Londoners have been warned not to visit Primrose Hill to watch this year's New Year's Eve fireworks after the park's police were axed as part of a cost-cutting measure. 

The royal park offers panoramic views of central London and in recent years has become a popular site for people to see in the new year.

Last year an estimated 30,000 people descended on Primrose Hill. However, this year revellers will discover the gates to the park locked shut from 8pm today until 6am on New Year's Day.

The closure of the park comes after the Metropolitan Police disbanded the capital's Royal Parks unit in November in an effort to help plug a £260million funding gap.

The force have denied the decision to close the park was due to the breakup of the unit. 

There has been growing concerns about the safety at the park following the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Harry Pitman on New Year's Eve 2023. 

The schoolboy was in Primrose Hill to watch the fireworks display when Areece Lloyd-Hall, 18, stabbed him in the neck.

He was jailed for a minimum of 16 years in November.

London's New Year's Eve fireworks as viewed from Primrose Hill. In 2024, 30,000 people gathered in the Royal Park to watch the spectacle but this year revellers will find the park closed 

Thousands of people at Primrose Hill for New Year's Eve last year. The Royal Parks charity, who manage Primrose Hill and a further seven parks across London, have claimed the decision to close the park was 'was not taken lightly'

The Royal Parks charity, who manage Primrose Hill and a further seven parks across London, have claimed the decision to close the park was 'was not taken lightly'. 

A spokesperson told the Daily Mail:'Last year an estimated 30,000 people visited Primrose Hill to view the Mayor of London's New Year's Eve firework display. This was not an organised event with an event organiser but a gathering in open parkland and we have limited controls that we can deploy to ensure public safety. 

'Therefore, we have decided that Primrose Hill will be closed and locked from 8pm on December 30 until January 1. We have been working closely with the Metropolitan Police by encouraging anyone without a ticket to the Mayor of London's New Year's Eve fireworks to make alternative arrangements.'

The Met Police hac claimed it is 'not accurate to suggest' the decision to shut Primrose Hill was necessary because the Royal Parks policing team was disbanded.

In a statement the force said: 'The decision to close Primrose Hill on New Year's Eve was one taken by the Royal Parks, not the police.