FIREWORKS worth thousands of pounds left unused as snow and gales spoilt the region's New Year's celebrations will not go to waste.

Pyrotechnic displays at the Manors car park in Newcastle and in Gateshead town centre car park were called off because of the high winds.

But Newcastle City Council, which helped organise the massive displays, said yesterday that most of the fireworks will be re-used in the future.

A spokesman said the Manchester firm hired to set them off had agreed it would return to the region when requested.

"Some were a bit weather damaged, but a substantive number are still there," he said, "but as long as we give them reasonable notice, they are going to come back to set them off on a date of our choosing."