More than 100,000 spectators gathered in London on Monday evening to watch Europe’s largest annual firework display as the world welcomed the new year with a series of spectacular celebrations.

With less than three months until Britain leaves the EU, London mayor Sadiq Khan said the display showed Europe that the capital will remain “open-minded” and “outward looking” post-Brexit.

Big Ben returned to action to kick off the sold-out show – Europe’s largest annual firework display – after a year of renovation works.

As London’s landmark clock tower chimed, 70,000 projectiles made up of 12,000 fireworks lit up the sky above the capital in an occasion Mr Khan hoped would “send a message of support” to the more than one million European citizens who call the city their home.

The words “London is open” were spoken in seven languages as the capital welcomed in 2019 with a dazzling riverside fireworks display.

New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Show all 41 1 /41 New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures London Thousands of fireworks explode over the London Eye as thousands gather to ring in the new year AP New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures London Fireworks explode over Westminster Abbey and Elizabeth Tower near Parliament as Big Ben marks the start of 2019 Getty Images New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures France A sound and light show under the theme 'fraternity' is seen on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris AFP/Getty Images New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Edinburgh Performers on stilts on Princess Street during the Hogmanay New Year celebrations in Edinburgh PA New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Netherlands Children watch the special children's fireworks display near the Erasmus bridge in Rotterdam, The Netherlands EPA New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Malaysia Spectators watch as fireworks explode in front of Malaysia's Petronas Twin Towers AP New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Thailand Fireworks explode over Chao Phraya River during the New Year celebrations in Bangkok Reuters New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures China Entertainers perform at the countdown event to celebrate the arrival of 2019 during the New Year's Eve celebration at Beijing Olympic Park EPA New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Germany The Brandenburg Gate landmark during the beginning of the New Year's Eve celebrations in Berlin EPA New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures India Schoolchildren hold balloons as they pose during celebrations to welcome the New Year at their school in Ahmedabad, India Reuters New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures United Arab Emirates People gather to watch a musical fountain in front of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building in the world EPA New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Hong Kong Fireworks explode over the Victoria Harbor during New Year's Eve to celebrate the start of year 2019 in Hong Kong AP New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures South Korea People attend a ceremony to celebrate the new year in Seoul, South Korea Reuters New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Taiwan An eightfold combo picture shows fireworks and light effects illuminating the night sky from the Taipei 101 skyscraper during New Year's Eve celebrations in Taiwan EPA New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Thailand Fireworks explode over the Chao Phraya River during New Year celebrations in Bangkok AFP/Getty New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Australia Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour during New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney AP New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA - JANUARY 01: Fireworks illuminate the city's skyline during New Year's Eve celebrations of 2018 on January 1, 2019 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images) Ulet Ifansasti Getty New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Japan People release balloons during the count down event at the Prince Park Tower Tokyo hotel Getty New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures HONG KONG, HONG KONG - JAN 1: People gather as fireworks light up the city's skyline marking the New Year celebrations in Hong Kong on January 01, 2019 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by Billy H.C. Kwok/Getty Images) Billy H.C. Kwok Getty New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Malaysia Fireworks illuminate the night sky over the Petronas Towers landmark during New Year's Day celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia EPA New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Denmark People take part in the annual new year's dip in the harbour of Copenhagen, Denmark, with both water and air temperature of six degrees Celcius AFP/Getty New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Singapore Fireworks explode over the Marina Bay ahead of the New Year Eve festivities in Singapore Reuters New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures India Indian girls pose for photographs as they take part in New Year's Eve celebrations in Bhopal EPA New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Singapore Fireworks explode over the Marina Bay for the New Year celebrations in Singapore Reuters New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures South Korea Fireworks illuminate the sky over the Jeongdongjin beach in Gangneung EPA New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures New Zealand Fireworks exploding from the Sky Tower with the Auckland Harbour Bridge Getty/ATEED New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Tennis players Rafael Nadal poses for a selfie with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Andy Murray and Nick Kyrgios while wearing festive new year 2019 eyewear and party hats in front of the Queensland Tennis centre in Brisbane AFP/Getty New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Australia The midnight fireworks light up the Sydney Opera House Getty New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Spain Revellers take selfies during a New Year's Eve celebration in Madrid AP New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Singapore Fireworks explode over the Marina Bay ahead of the New Year's Eve festivities in Singapore Reuters New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures New Year's Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House during the fireworks show on January 1, 2019. (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP)PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images PETER PARKS AFP/Getty New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures France People take part in a traditional sea bath to mark the New Year's celebrations on a nudist beach in Le Cap d'Agde, southern France AFP/Getty New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures South Korea People walk among illuminated decorations at Cheonggye street during New Year's Eve celebrations in Seoul, South Korea EPA New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures New Zealand AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - DECEMBER 31: Fireworks are seen exploding from the Sky Tower with the Auckland Harbour Bridge in the foreground during the Auckland New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31, 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images for ATEED) Phil Walter Getty/ATEED New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures India Indian girls, with their faces painted with slogans to welcome the new year and Indian flags, pose for photographs as they celebrate in Amritsar EPA New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Australia Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour AP New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures India Indian tourists play with snow at Kongdoori tourist resort in Gulmarg north of Kashmir EPA New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Thailand Artists perform at a shopping centre during the New Year festival in Bangkok Reuters New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Myanmar People takes selfies during the last sunset of the year in Naypyitaw AP New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Australia New Year's Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House during the fireworks show AFP/Getty New Year's Eve 2018 celebrations – in pictures Spain Several hundred residents gathered in the square to eat the traditional 12 grapes to the sound of twelve strokes at noon in the town of Vilagarcia de Arousa, northwestern Spain. The people traditionally welcome the New Year eating 12 grapes to the sound of twelve strokes of the clock at midnight in Spain. The clock of Puerta del Sol is mainly used to carry on the tradition and for first time, the Madrid's clock will sound 12 strokes two times at 0:00 and 01:00 hours for the people in Canary Island, who celebrates the arrival of the New Year one hour later EPA

Mr Khan spoke the adage in English around two minutes into the new year, which was then uttered in Spanish, Polish, French, Romanian, German and Italian.

We Are Your Friends, Stay and Don’t Leave Me Alone were some of the songs chosen for the 11-minute soundtrack, which featured artists from Ireland, France, Sweden and elsewhere.

London’s breathtaking display came after a series of stunning shows across the world – Auckland was the first major city to welcome the new year with spectacle centred around the New Zealand city’s Sky Tower.

Meanwhile more than a million people turned out to watch Sydney’s world-famous display, despite torrential rain and lightning earlier in the day.