WEYMOUTH is set to be a riot of colour and costume tonight (Thurs 31) as thousands of people flock to the town's bars to welcome in the New Year.

As the clock hits midnight, partygoers will raise their glasses as they say goodbye to 2015 and hello to 2016 as the town centre bustles with activity and merriment.

Weymouth has garnered a well-respected reputation over the years for its New Year's Eve celebrations as thousands of people wear fancy dress as part of the festivities.

Now, partygoers and those dressed in fancy dress could win £100 thanks to a selfie competition launched by the Weymouth Business Improvement District (BID) and the Dorset Echo.

All revellers have to do is take a snap of themselves either in a group or on their own in their fancy dress and send it to the Dorset Echo by next Monday.

Nigel Reed, Weymouth BID manager, said: “This is a fun way to encourage people to share selfies and photographs taken in and around Weymouth.

“New Year’s Eve is always a great party time in Weymouth and by supporting this competition we are hoping that even more people will choose to come to Weymouth to party the night way and enjoy time in the many restaurants, bars and clubs.

“I would like to thank the smaller businesses in Weymouth for stepping in with competition prizes for this promotion as well as the Weymouth Pavilion.

“The BID is also working with First Bus and taxi companies to ensure that everyone has a safe journey home after the festivities.”

To enter the competition, people must submit their selfie entries of themselves, families and friends to the Echo by January 4.

There are five categories which each has a prize of £100 in vouchers. The first category is for staff in a pub or restaurant, and the winner will receive £100 in vouchers for Tom and Erin’s Fancy Dress shop on the Esplanade.

The second is the group category, with the winner receiving £100 in vouchers for Delicious Hamper.The third category is for the best individual fancy dress with the winner scooping £100 in vouchers for PAZ Clothing.

The best couple’s fancy dress winners will be given £100 in vouchers for No. 4 restaurant in the fourth category and in the fifth category, the best business colleagues dressing up will win £100 in vouchers for Weymouth Pavilion.

To enter, people can email their photo to promotions@dorsetecho.co.uk and must include New Year in the subject box, they can text their entries to 80360, entrants must start the message with NEWYEAR and leave a space before entering their category number, name, telephone number and picture, with texts costing £1 plus your operator's standard charge, or you can enter by uploading your photo to dorsetecho.co.uk/newyear

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