The Winter Wonderland Christmas fair opened tonight with beefed up security to prevent a Berlin-style terror attack.
Layers of steel barriers guarded thousands who queued for the entrance to London’s Hyde Park.
Rucksacks and women’s handbags were meticulously searched as queues appeared thinner and more orderly than last year when crowds waiting to get in were described as ‘sitting ducks’ for terrorists.
The Winter Wonderland Christmas fair opened tonight with beefed up security to avoid a terror attack
This year, the main entrance still has fences set up to funnel visitors into the main gates, although barriers run down the side of the pathway to protect the public
Last December twelve people people died and 56 were injured when Islamic extremist Anis Amri ploughed a truck into a Christmas market outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin.
Concrete blocks, steel security barriers and metal fencing have been put in place to prevent an attack of this type at Winter Wonderland.
The Marble Arch entrance has zigzag metal fencing to allow for long queues, but also has a row of black concrete blocks in front of the grass area and concrete barriers running either side of the entrance.
Huge concrete blocks have been put across the the main entrance to Hyde Park this year to stop vehicles driving down its wide walkways.
Metal and concrete barriers have also been erected along the side of the entrance to stop potential van and lorry attacks.
Rucksacks and women’s handbags were meticulously searched at the entrance
Security checks at the gates as Winter Wonderland opened to the first members of the public
A group of young girls have their bags searched as they enter on opening night
The queues built up from 5pm when the doors first opened to Winter Wonderland
The fair, which opened at 5pm today, will last until 1 January when it will be taken down
This was the scene last year when crowds waiting to get in were described as ‘sitting ducks’
Yesterday concrete blocks were still being moved into position and more fortifications drilled into the ground.
The fair – made using 500 tonnes of ice and snow – is expected to attract millions before it closes its doors on January 1.
Those walking around the Winter Wonderland said they thought it was important to carry on as normal in the face of the terror threat facing the UK.
Security has been beefed up around the Winter Wonderland Christmas fair in London amid fears of a Berlin-style terror attack
The attraction officially opens on Friday night but it was open this evening to pre-paid ticketholders
This year, the main entrance still has fences set up to funnel visitors into the main gates, although barriers run down the side of the pathway to protect the public
Tightened security at the entrance to Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, now in its 11th year
Large metal gates have been put up near the entrance to London’s Winter Wonderland
Long steel barriers have also been put up in Hyde Park to prevent potential lorry or van attacks
The barriers have been installed around the attraction before it opened to the public
There were fears last year that the large crowds funnelled into entrance gates could be targets
Security workers were busy installing concrete barriers around the site yesterday afternoon
Barriers have been installed in other parts of the famous London park to beef up security
Organisers say they are working with police to ensure the security of millions of visitors
Tourist Margaret Farrell, 63, welcomed the extra security, adding: ‘It’s unfortunate we have to do these things to keep people safe but they have to do what is necessary, otherwise there could be another tragedy.
‘I’m personally not worried about terrorism, you can’t live your life like that.’
Londoner Paul Barrett, 44, who was visiting Hyde Park with his three-year-old son, said: ‘It’s good they’ve got extra security measures. It would be terrible if they did nothing and there was another attack.
‘But I don’t think it will make any more or less people come here. Londoners will always do whatever they want and not let the threat of terrorism get in the way.’
Armed police have been seen patrolling Manchester’s Christmas markets this week, working alongside undercover plain clothes officers who will mingle with the crowds.
The attraction is to open to the public tomorrow and will remain open until January 1
CCTV cameras are scattered throughout the fairground, which covers a quarter of Hyde Park
Armed police patrolled Christmas markets in Manchester this week amid terrorism fears
Christmas markets were shown to be target for jihadis in an attack in Berlin last December
Armed anti-terror police have also been carrying out stop and searches of vehicles in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
A spokesman for Winter Wonderland told MailOnline: ‘The safety and security of our customers is of the utmost importance. We have a robust security management plan in place.
‘This includes extensive perimeter protection with barriers placed around the site to protect from vehicles, as well as thorough bag searches and an enhanced police presence.
‘Due to the additional safety and security checks that will be in place, we are advising our customers to allow extra time for this when planning their visit.
‘We continue to work closely with all relevant authorities including the Metropolitan Police, Westminster City Council and Counter Terrorism Police to ensure public safety and we are constantly reviewing our plans and procedures.’
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said last week: ‘The public may see additional protective security measures and barriers at events this year, in response to a number of vehicle-based terrorist attacks we have sadly seen both here in the UK and abroad.’
Earlier this week, armed police carried out a training exercise in Birmingham’s Bullring centre
Paramedics and rescue workers in bullet-proof vests and helmets also took part in the drill
It comes after a terrorist used to lorry to kill 12 at at Christmas market in Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz last December