AROUND 2,000 people lined Bournemouth seafront waiting for a New Year fireworks display that didn't happen.

Some of the visitors, who had assumed there would be a display as in previous years, are pledging not to return to the resort.

The display to herald 2008 was cancelled because Bournemouth Tourism failed to find a sponsor for the event.

But according to police estimates about 2,000 people still turned up expecting a display.

Chief Inspector Nicky Searle said: "A large number of people, many of them international students, gathered along Bournemouth seafront late on New Year's Eve in anticipation of there being a fireworks display to bring in the New Year.

"In spite of there being no display the evening's celebrations passed off without any serious incident."

Customer service manager Mourad Malki was planning to watch the fireworks with his wife but was disappointed.

Mr Malki, from Exeter Road, said: "There were people lined up along the seafront from the BIC to the Royal Bath Hotel. At midnight we were all waiting but there were no fireworks at all."

He said that people started whistling and that some were quite angry.

He added: "It was shocking. No-one was informed. If they tell us there are not going to be any fireworks next year then I would definitely go somewhere else to celebrate where I could watch them."

A spokesman for Bournemouth Tourism said: "It's unfortunate to hear that some people went to the seafront expecting fireworks this year.

"However, it was advertised that there were no fireworks this year as was the case last year. The Echo printed a half page article on December 28 stating that there were no fireworks and giving a run down of what was happening on New Year's Eve such as the funfair on Pier Approach.

"Unless otherwise stated, there will be no fireworks on New Year's Eve in future years."