A record number of armed police will be patrolling London’s streets and a ring of concrete barriers will be block roads to the city centre for New Year’s Eve celebrations following terrorist lorry attacks on the Continent.

The number of armed Scotland Yard officers will be higher than the 2,000 on duty for last year’s festivities and armed transport police will again patrol the London Underground.

A record number of concrete bollards will also be placed at junctions to keep traffic out of central London and protect crowds from any attempt to copy lorry attacks which killed scores in France and Germany.