THE start of a new millennium was marked with joyous celebrations across the UK.

The Millennium Dome in London was officially opened by HM The Queen as the country looked forward to a prosperous future.

However 2000 would go on to be the wettest year on record in the UK as well as one marked by great social unrest.

It was also the end of an era as production of the Ford Escort, one of Britain's most successful and iconic motoring nameplates, finished after 32 years.

Then, as before and now, protests took place across the country with the May Day riot in London by anti-capitalist protestors leaving the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square and the Cenotaph in Whitehall daubed with graffiti.

In the same year protesters block the entrances to oil refineries in protest against high fuel prices.

Panic buying by motorists led to nationwide petrol shortages, with between 75 and 90 per cent of all UK petrol stations closing due to low supplies in the following week.

The national mood was further laid flat as the England national football team crashed out of Euro 2000, jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium.

Despite beating Germany, England are eliminated in the group stage after two defeats.

Life continued in Powys as ever and the County Times shares a handful of pictures from that year.

County Times: Ladywell green primary school pupils in Newtown have won in the art and craft section of the county eisteddfod in Theatre Hafren, Newtown, a couple of weeks ago. FL-R; Lewis Jones and Megan Summers, 1st photography ML-R; Jodie Stachini, 1st knitting, 2nd

Ladywell Green Primary School pupils in Newtown won the art and craft section of the county eisteddfod.

County Times: Local business men enjoying the County Times business breakfast club meeting in the Elephant and Castle in Newtown, on Friday 2nd June

Businessmen enjoying the County Times business breakfast club meeting in the Elephant and Castle in Newtown.

County Times: Get Going Gang playscheme at Maesydre school in Welshpool - Fancy dress 10 -11 yr winners, 1st - hannah rushton as a clown, nicky roberts as rocky and carl gannon as steven hendry.all pictured with mayor of welshpool sybil pryce.

Get Going Gang playscheme at Maesydre School in Welshpool fancy dress winners, Hannah Rushton, Nicky Roberts and Carl Gannon with mayor Sybil Pryce.

County Times: Newtown high school new head boy and girl. BL-R;; heads - Vanessa Skinner, Rhodri Harris FL-R; Rebekah Perkins, David HAmer

Newtown High School head boy and girl with theit deputies. Vanessa Skinner, Rhodri Harris, Rebekah Perkins and David Hamer.

County Times: Forden United in 2000.

Forden United Football Club in 2000.

County Times: Newtown high school pupils who took part in a Swimathon on the 19th March , to raise money for Shelter Cymru and Demelza's Romanian orphanage fund. They swam 5,000 m per team and it took 2hrs in all. They have raised at least ?256. BL-R; Emma

Newtown High School pupils who took part in a Swimathon to raise money for Shelter Cymru and Demelza's Romanian orphanage fund.

County Times: Welshpool high school yr 8 pupils enjoyed a French breakfast as part of their project on French food. Pic are Jack Davies, Matt Price, Richard Moore.

Welshpool High School pupils enjoy a French breakfast as part of their project on French food. Pictured are Jack Davies, Matt Price and Richard Moore.

County Times: sgol Bro Ddyfi, Machynlleth. The 6th form have raised over ?2000 for Children in Need from a Sponsored Bed Push last Saturday 17th November from Llanbrynmair to Machynlleth. pic are the 6th formers before the start of the bed push.

Ysgol Bro Ddyfi sixth form held a sponsored bed push for Children in Need.

County Times: Welshpool High School Fashion Show pic l-r Sarah Rowlands and Lois Sheen.

Welshpool High School Fashion Show. Pictured are Sarah Rowlands and Lois Sheen.

County Times: Llanidloes Rubies Dance Troup.

Llanidloes Rubies Dance Troup.