THE PARTY spirit was in evidence all across the Okehampton area as the whole world celebrated the dawning of a new age.
An atmosphere never felt before, was how one man described Millennium night in Hatherleigh.
Richard Tidball said after a firework display earlier in the evening in Hatherleigh people had disbanded to attend private parties but just before midnight crowds gathered in The Square to countdown to the Year 2000.
'It was a fabulous feeling — really unbelievable,' said Mr Tidball. 'I had never felt an atmosphere like it. People just wanted to celebrate.
'There was no rowdiness just pure celebration.'
He said people ranged from the ages of four to 80 and the singing and dancing went on for many hours.
In North Tawton more than 700 people attended the events organised by the Millennium Committee which included a disco, karaoke, fancy dress competition and barbecue.
Chairman of the committee John Kinsey said it was a very special event and there was 'brilliant atmosphere'.
'It really could not have gone better and I do not think another town could have celebrated like North Tawton that night,' he said.
A very merry time was had by all in Chagford with 'almost all' the village congregating in The Square at midnight.
Parties were held in village halls around the area and beacons, bonfires and firework displays were in abundance.
In Sampford Courtenay a local resident donated two dozen bottles of champagne to ensure the party went off with a bang and the people of Exbourne were kept well fed with a ram roast.
Fireworks could be seen in the night sky in Okehampton as people celebrated at their own private parties.
The ambulance service was kept busy — between midnight and 5am the Westcountry Ambulance Service responded to 350 calls.
Eighty-eight of the incidents were in the North and East Devon area, which includes Okehampton.
Spokesman Darren Gibson said it was unfortunate that the early summaries of statistical information indicated that a large proportion of incidents were assault and alcohol-related.
Chief executive of the Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS Trust Michael Willis said the extensive preparations by the service had ensured that the high level of demand had been met by the normal and additional resources that had been provided.
The service was supported by volunteers from the British Red Cross and St John Ambulance Brigade.
The celebrations went off well, reported Devon and Cornwall Police who saw a decrease in crime compared with last year.
Crime-related incidents fell by 14 per cent, resulting in over 50 fewer arrests throughout the evening. Emergency 999 calls during the same period also fell by just less than nine per cent.
The overall trend showed that the majority of people across the two counties ensured the birth of the new Millennium was celebrated in good spirits, concluded the police.