Dartmouth's has been named by a national newspaper as one of the top places in the country to see in the New Year.

The last time that happened almost 20 years ago the town was swamped by revellers and Dartmouth's New Year's Eve bash became so big it threatened to wreck the fun event for both visitors and locals.

But there is little fear that this week's exposure in the Guardian is likely to cause the same problem, as the town is only mentioned as an Auld Lang Syne also-ran in the line up that puts Bideford as the top Westcountry venue for celebrating the New Year.

One Dartmouth businessman is hoping the town can put in an even greater effort this year when it comes to its traditional fancy dress celebrations.

Hotelier Nigel Way, who is planning to stage a midnight fireworks display from the top of the Royal Castle Hotel to mark the start of 2012, said: 'New Year's Eve is important economically for lots of people in Dartmouth – as is Christmas.

'It is economically important to the community as it is important to the visitors and locals alike.

'It is thanks to the locals that the whole thing started off with the whole fancy dress thing. It would be great if more people were in fancy dress this year. It wasn't that special last year.'

The latest national mention came in the Guardian newspaper's top 10 list of places to see in the New Year which included Bideford in North Devon.

But the report declared that if you can't get to Bideford 'similar Westcountry shenanigans take place in Dart mouth, Looe and St Ives'.

Dartmouth originally hit the headlines when it was declared on national radio that the town was the best place for New Year's Eve celebrations next to the Trafalgar Square in London.

As a result over the next few years people flocked to the town and at one stage coach loads of revellers were being bussed in from Torbay and Plymouth – many of them already 'merry' before they even arrived in the town.

The resulting problems of drunkenness and anti-social behaviour caused complaints as the size of the celebrations resulted in many local refusing to join in.

But mayor Cllr Paul Allen said he did not think any flood of revellers was a 'concern'.

He added: 'We generally welcome any visitors to the town to celebrate Christmas and New Year with us.'

He said that since then the town's annual celebration had become 'tempered', partly by the economic climate.

'People came expecting a huge party event when nothing is centrally organised and it actually relives on the benevolence of local people,' he said.

'It is a nice place to be with a friendly atmosphere.

'People do still dress up and it's a great attraction.

'The flow of alcohol does not encourage good behaviour but if people are sensible about what they are doing it is all right.'

Cllr Allen added: 'Any national press is good publicity for Dartmouth and if people can't get down for New Year's Eve they may come down for the half-term breaks.'

Mr Way, who annually organises a team of bell ringers to ring in the New Year at St Saviour's Church with the aid of a case of champagne, stressed the importance of New Year's Eve for the town as he pointed out that the 'general economic downturn was having an effect on Dartmouth'.