Two-thirds of Hogmanay tickets unsold

LESS than a third of the tickets for Edinburgh's Hogmanay party have been sold with just over a month to go.

Fears have been raised that the celebration, will suffer a dramatic slump in attendance this year due to the economic downturn.

Just over a quarter of the tickets for the flagship Concert in the Gardens, which cost up to £42.50 for the stage-side enclosure, are understood to have been sold.

Meanwhile, tickets for the scaled-back open-air ceilidh in East Princes Street Gardens are still being sold at £37.50.

Crisis talks have been ordered in an attempt to step up marketing efforts across the UK, and council officials are reportedly banking on a late rush.

A line up of acts, including Groove Armada, Paolo Nutini, Glasvegas, Complete Stone Roses and Hot Chip, has been booked in the hope of ramping up the profile this year.