Britain's most famous bell rings out on New Year's Eve to mark the end of the Brexit transition period when the UK leads the EU, Single market and customs union celebrations will rather muted due to ongoing restrictions on gatherings, not to mention the divides an opinion over Britain's course.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson used his New Year's message to Helen New Dawn for the UK We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it.

And I think it will be the overwhelming instinct of the people of this country to come together as one United Kingdom, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland working together to express our values around the world.

But in Scotland, where support for independence has risen partly due to Brexit, First Minister Nicolas Sturgeon tweeted that there will be back soon and asked Europe to keep the light on.

Meanwhile, across the channel in northern France, the first trucks hauling goods over the new custom borders presented their clearance documents to French agents before loading onto a train to pass through the Eurotunnel, British and European businesses have warned a future carnage at the border as they learn to navigate a wall of red tape and paperwork that could disrupt the smooth flow of nearly €1 trillion in annual trade.

After almost half a century of EU membership, the British public have been told to brace themselves for changes toe everything from pet passports and driving license rules to data restrictions.