THE champagne is on ice across the Westcountry as revellers prepare to say goodbye to 2009 and welcome in the New Year.

Partygoers across Devon and Cornwall will be putting the finishing touches to fancy dress outfits today as they prepare to head out to one of the many towns that will be awash with colour.

Looe, Newquay, St Ives, Exmouth, Dartmouth and Bideford are among the many hubs for revellers on what some regard as the biggest night out of the year.

Fireworks will explode over Truro's Lemon Quay at midnight to welcome in the decade.

In Torquay, the Town Hall will be taken over by dancers with a spring in their step as they see in the New Year cheek to cheek, with professional duo Henry and Jeannie Clark.

And the Cornish town of Lostwithiel will be invaded by giants, for its regular parade of effigies, starting outside the museum at 11.15pm. Frances Webb, who plays the bagpipes with a diverse range of musicians who improvise throughout the march, said the parade was creative and colourful. She said: "Anyone can join in, and we get some really beautiful giants – some of them are so bug that they're looking into first floor windows."

Pubs and clubs across the Westcountry have booked DJs and bands to hail in the New Year. In Timepiece, Exeter, revellers will take part in a Big Ben countdown ahead of a balloon drop.

Co-owner George Sloan said: "I would say that every year about 50 per cent of people turn up in fancy dress. We'll be doing our usual festive things; we'll be serving mulled wine, the staff will be in fancy dress as well.

"We have people who travel from far and wide to get to the club on New Year's Eve. It's a very popular night for us and it's a great, fun night to work."

But, for Devon and Cornwall police, the busiest party night of the year means boosting staff numbers and high-visibility policing across the two counties.

A spokesman said the increased alcohol consumption meant a high number of spontaneous outbreaks of violence and public order incidents, and the potential for anti-social behaviour and criminal damage to flare up.

A spokesman said: "We have increased staff numbers in every area, in anticipation of problems that historically do occur. This is to ensure that we are on hand and are able to respond to, and deal quickly and as quietly as possible with, any issues that arrive.

"We want people to enjoy themselves, but to do it peacefully, lawfully and safely and consider others when out and about celebrating."

Many more people are opting for a quieter New Year, according to Tim Jones, chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council. His survey of members indicated that an increasing number are choosing to dine in with friends, instead of taking up the hotel dinner and dance packages which have become traditional. He estimated the drop in business to be around 20 per cent.

He said: "There seems to be a general feeling that people couldn't cut costs at Christmas, but New Year is a time when they can save money. I think the impact could be quite significant."