How's your head today? Britain recovers after biggest night of the Christmas party season and 2014's booziest evening
- Last night was the busiest evening for work Christmas parties in Britain
- Known as 'Mad Friday' it marks the start of the Christmas season for many
- There are fears festivities will hit hospitals and police forces in the UK
- Last year sales of alcohol rose by 114 per cent compared to average Friday
- Shoppers are expected to spend £1.2billion today on 'Panic Saturday'
Britain is recovering today after celebrating the busiest night of the Christmas party season and the year's booziest evening.
Revellers across the country donned their party outfits to celebrate 'Mad Friday' last night as many offices closed for the festive period.
Police forces brought in extra officers to cope with demand and hospitals were on high alert as Britons put their health and safety at risk by opting for one drink too many.
Scroll down for video
Hospitals were on high alert as Britons put their health and safety at risk by opting for one drink too many, pictured a woman falling over in Manchester
Two girls are looked after by police officers in Bristol city centre during 'Mad Friday' last night
A couple of girls lie in the middle of the street after falling over in Bristol city centre last night
A woman wearing high platform shoes stumbles and falls over last night in Swansea's Wind Street
A group of friend eat fast food on the street after celebrating the start of the Christmas holidays
A man climbed up the giant Christmas tree in Victoria Square, Belfast, at around 10pm last night
A man sits with his head in his hands as he is dealt with by a police officer in Bristol city centre
In Leeds city centre, fancy dress was in full flow with groups of women hitting the town in striking wigs, while others on stilts serenaded sharply dressed men.
Elsewhere in Birmingham, groups of friends showed off their ostentatious variety of festive jumpers.
One reveller in London took the seasonal attire to the next level, with a full red Christmas themed suit covered in snowmen and Christmas trees.
Share this article
Last year, sales of alcohol soared by 114 per cent on Mad Friday compared with an average Friday in 2013.
Police forces up and down the country brought in extra officers to cope with the demand in busy city centres.
In Manchester alone between 150,000 to 200,000 people rolled in to town for a boozy shindig.
A couple chat on the pavement during the busiest night of the Christmas party season and the year's booziest evening
A woman is lifted up by two men while out celebrating in Swansea as many offices closed for the festive period
A group of women in full fancy dress hit up Leeds city centre on a drizzly night in Yorkshire
Revellers in Newcastle city centre donned their party outfits to celebrate 'Mad Friday' last night
A group of women dressed up as Santa on the biggest night of the Christmas party season in Newcastle
Two women dressed in festive costumes with striped stockings outside Napoleons in Manchester
Also in Leeds, two men try their luck with women on stilts on the night that is the start of the festive period
The girls on stilts pose for a picture on 'Mad Friday', which saw alcohol sales rise by 114 per cent last year
Groups of friends dressed as Santa Claus and elves as they celebrated the busiest night for Christmas office parties in London
A woman was arrested by North Wales Police for being 'drunk and urinating' in public at 4pm.
In Cardiff, there is a temporary triage unit in the city centre, while there is a help point in Swansea.
Police and ambulance crews urged people to take care when out drinking.
Humberside Police said: 'The festive period is a great time to socialise with friends and work colleagues in the run-up to Christmas.
'Unfortunately, these nights can lead to revellers drinking excessively which leaves them vulnerable to becoming victims of crime and occasionally leading to serious assaults and sexual assaults.'
Street pastors are turning to social media in an effort to use it as a force for good during party season.
Christian Nightlife Initiatives have launched a #StaySafe campaign reminding revellers of responsible drinking and appropriate behaviour.
In the capital, a man took the festive attire to the next level, with a full red Christmas themed suit covered in snowmen and Christmas trees
Two men in Birmingham city centre got into the festive spirit by donning bright red Santa onesies
Two women in Leeds city centre enjoyed Britain's booziest day of the year - known as 'Black' or 'Mad' Friday
A reveller dressed in a full puppy suit and a man in a Santa hat peruse the crowds in Birmingham
Two women dressed in sexy Santa outfits walk down Swansea's Wind Street for a Black Friday night out
A group of friends in a full range of festive Christmas jumpers show off their seasonal wear for the cameras
Two girls in high heels take shelter under a leather jacket and umbrella given by a homeless man in London
Female friends get together on the night when many people celebrate the closure of the office for Christmas
Friends link arms in their festive jumpers on the busiest drinking night of the year across the country
In London, drinkers take a civilised approach and sip on their beverages on the last Friday before Christmas
Two revellers in matching outfits walk though a sodden Leeds city centre on the busy drinking night
Two men get in the festive spirit as they march through the Leeds city centre in Santa hats and beards
Party-goers in London dressed in dinner suits prepare for one of the busiest drinking nights in the calendar
A man and woman share a quiet bottle of champagne away from the crowds in central London
Their tips include drinking plenty of water, staying in groups of friends, and keeping money back to afford transport home at the end of the evening.
Festive shoppers are expected to spend £1.2billion today as panic buyers hit the stores on 'Panic Saturday'.
Some of the country's biggest high street names have slashed prices for what is expected to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Around 13 million consumers will spend £2.1million for every minute the shops are open on last-minute gifts and groceries at an average of £92.31 per person, according to a report by the Centre for Retail Research (CRR).
Debenhams is selling some Christmas gifts at half-price, Boots is offering a 60 per cent discount of selected fragrances and Marks & Spencer has knocked 50 per cent off the price of some beauty products.
Britain's department stores can expect to double their takings this weekend, with outlets in the north of England set to benefit the most from Panic Saturday, according to data from Worldpay.
Crowds of revellers brave the wet weather to take to the streets of Liverpool on Mad Friday
Two young women, wearing short dresses and platform shoes, enjoy a night out in Liverpool on Mad Friday
Two policemen escort a woman to a taxi after she enjoyed a night out with friends in Liverpool on Friday
Most watched News videos
- Shocking moment school volunteer upskirts a woman at Target
- Sweet moment Wills handed get well soon cards for Kate and Charles
- Appalling moment student slaps woman teacher twice across the face
- 'Inhumane' woman wheels CORPSE into bank to get loan 'signed off'
- Shocking scenes in Dubai as British resident shows torrential rain
- Prince William resumes official duties after Kate's cancer diagnosis
- Chaos in Dubai morning after over year and half's worth of rain fell
- 'Incredibly difficult' for Sturgeon after husband formally charged
- Rishi on moral mission to combat 'unsustainable' sick note culture
- Mel Stride: Sick note culture 'not good for economy'
- Jewish campaigner gets told to leave Pro-Palestinian march in London
- Shocking video shows bully beating disabled girl in wheelchair
