Final preparations are being made for what will surely be Coventry's most spectacular ever New Year's Eve party.

Thirty thousand people are expected to crowd the city centre to be entertained by a feast of acts for all the family including tribute bands, clowns and world music.

The main event will take place at 9.20pm when the world's TV cameras will be joining the people of Coventry to watch the daring high-wire walk by Ramon Kelvink.

This fifth generation tightrope walker will do what Charles Blondin was refused permission to attempt over a century ago. He will walk the 80m between the spires of Holy Trinity and St Michaels, the old cathedral.

The breathtaking feat will take place 45m above the ground and will only be halted, Ramon assures us, by fierce storms.

The French skywalker did a test walk just after 5pm on Thursday, and a steady drizzle caused him no problems.

Just in case anything does go wrong Ramon will be wearing a safety harness. Though this is a precaution that the local council insisted upon rather than one the Frenchman chose.

All city centre car parks will be free from 12noon. There will also be a considerable number of bus routes operating special hourly or half-hourly services until 3am.