Timing is everything when it comes to the new year countdown. So when an entire city centre had to wait for four minutes for a tram driver to get out of the way before festivities could start, it got slightly awkward.

Deemed “excruciating” by one spectator, the lag in Manchester to join the rest of the UK in welcoming in 2015 followed a well-timed countdown aided by a giant clock in the city’s Piccadilly Gardens.

“Five, four, three, two, one. Let’s have the fireworks!” ordered the show’s host, but after a massive roar, nothing happened.

In footage of the event, people in the crowd can be heard wondering where they are supposed to look, and sarcastically remarking: “Interesting fireworks!”

At about 90 seconds past midnight, the host tells the 15,000-strong crowd there is a small problem. “Right folks, just a small hitch,” the announcer says to the sound of booing. “We’re just waiting for a tram to go out.”

Only in Manchester would you need to do three countdowns coz the tram was in the way of the fireworks lmao Happy New Year everyone!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 — Natalie Mallalieu (@Nathers_) January 1, 2015

He added: “Get out of the way of the fireworks, Mr Tram.”

Organisers later confirmed that the tram had pulled into the firework “fallout” zone just at the wrong moment, halting the display for safety reasons.

After another failed countdown and more booing, another person in the crowd can be heard saying: “It’ll be another three hours before this stupid tram moves.”

Dan Thompson, an investigative journalist at the Manchester Evening News (MEN), described the wait as excruciating before the display, set to a soundtrack of Take That’s Greatest Day, finally got going in earnest.

So here in Manchester, the celebratory fireworks were delayed because a tram came into Piccadilly at midnight. *slow handclap* — Lynsey Spence (@Sidekick28) January 1, 2015

It is only the second year the city has held a pyrotechnic display in its centre. The council’s city centre spokesman Pat Karney told the MEN: “It was a fabulous Manchester crowd, the biggest we’ve ever had for a firework display. The tram delay added extra excitement and suspense to the occasion. I’ll leave it to the transport authority to check what happened.”