Don’t come to South Bank for fireworks, says Ken

The mayor said that the two-minute display is purely for the cameras.

Livingstone said he wanted to create an extravanganza to rival the spectacular fireworks displays that cities such as Sydney and Los Angeles have become noted for, but doesn't want to deal with the crowds that such events attract.

"If 2 million people turn up, there will be a problem. We do not think that 2 million will turn up," he said. "It will just be a two-minute firework display. It will be a visual image to broadcast around the world."

Livingstone said discussions were under way for a big party next year.