Visitors to London's New Year's Eve firework celebrations will this year be charged for the first time, mayor Boris Johnson has announced.

Some 100,000 tickets will be made available to the public from Friday 26 September, under new measures designed to keep the event safe and enjoyable.

Since first being staged at the Thames-side London Eye in 2003, the number of people heading to see the pyrotechnic display is thought to have risen from 100,000 to half a million.

The mayor's office said crowds congregating on last year's event put 'enormous strain on transport and safety infrastructure'.

All of the £10 entry price will be used to pay for the ticketing system and extra infrastructure required.

Johnson said: 'London's New Year's Eve fireworks are phenomenally popular, not just in the capital, but across the world and we want to ensure it continues to be a safe, enjoyable and sustainable event for the long-term. After consulting with our partners, we are introducing ticketing to help manage crowd numbers and create a better experience on the night.'

However, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, Caroline Pidgeon, hit out at the decision, arguing the mayor should 'delight' in the event's growing popularity.

'The central London event must be accessible to everyone and that must mean it remains free. It would be a scandal if any families were denied access to the event due to the introduction of ticket prices,' Pidgeon said.

'There is also the potential for serious crowd management issues outside of the "pay zone" if this plan goes ahead.'

Commander Simon Bray, Metropolitan Police Service, said: 'We will continue our full involvement in the detailed planning for the central London celebrations, working closely with the organisers and other emergency services. We are confident that 2014's New Year's celebrations in central London will, as ever, be a great occasion.'