Berlin's main New Year's Eve party is to have a 'safe space' for women after hundreds reported being assaulted by men with migrant backgrounds at Cologne celebrations two years ago.

The secure zone, staffed by the German Red Cross, will be set up for the December 31 celebrations at the capital city's famous Brandenburg Gate.

Women have been told to seek help from other revellers if they feel harassed or threatened.

Berlin's main New Year's Eve party is to have a 'safe space' for women after hundreds reported being assaulted by men with migrant backgrounds at Cologne celebrations two years ago. Pictured: Police close off the area to prepare for the party at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

Mass sexual assaults took place on New Year's Eve 2015 in Cologne with hundreds of women claiming to have been targeted by men with migrant backgrounds

Booze will be banned at the Brandenburg Gate site while large bags and rucksacks will also be outlawed, it has been reported.

It comes after mass sexual assaults took place on New Year's Eve 2015 in Cologne with hundreds of women claiming to have been targeted by men with migrant backgrounds.

In December last year it was reported that in total, 1,222 criminal complaints were investigated by the authorities in Cologne, of which 513 involved an accusation of sexual assault.

Security will be tight in Berlin this year - especially in the wake of a series of terror attacks that have struck at the heart of Europe in recent years

These included sexual coercion, rape and sexually motivated insults.

The attacks sparked outrage across Germany amid tensions over the arrival in the country of 1.1million refugees in 2015.

Security will be tight in Berlin this year - especially in the wake of a series of terror attacks that have struck at the heart of Europe in recent years.

In December last year, a jihadist used a lorry to murder revellers as they enjoyed a Christmas market in the city.