DUMP the Dome - that is the view of sixth formers disenchanted with the millennium celebrations this year

The pupils, from Benton Park School, Rawdon, were scathing about the Dome - and also critical of the authorities for concentrating on too many showpiece buildings like the Dome or the Millennium Square in Leeds.

Sarah Langley, 17, was particularly scathing about the Millennium Dome - and added that local celebrations seemed to be a bit disappointing too.

"The Dome is a waste of money, they could have spent the money on things like hospitals, schools and education and things like that. Then there was all this stuff about the robbery, the Dome has been a farce.

"They could have done something that meant something to people around here. The Millennium Square in Leeds does not mean anything to us. It used to be a nice garden in front of the Civic Hall, but now I expect it will be quite tacky."

Her friend Lucie Cornell, 17, said millennium celebrations had been hyped up and had not met expectations.

"Everybody got stressed out about the Millennium Bug and what to do last New Year's Eve, but nothing happened and people just treated it as the passing of another year," said Lucie.

"They put all that effort into the Millennium Dome, and they'll end up pulling it down. It all seems such a waste. I don't know what I'll be doing this New Year's Eve, I haven't decided yet."

Natalie Whiteley, aged 17, said that she had quite a good time but didn't remember much.

"People tried to make an effort. Where I live, on the Westfields in Yeadon, we had a big street party which everybody came to.

"It was like the Second World War when there was real community spirit, everybody had a really good time."

Nationally, the event has been a big let-down for Natalie.

"There was a lot on at the Dome on New Year's Eve and some fireworks, but beyond that, there wasn't really anything."

Sixteen-year-old Liz Kennedy agreed that the millennium had been subject to too much hype.

She said: "Everybody thought it was going to be great, but in the end it was only one night.

"I had a really boring night anyway, I had to go out with my parents and they made me come home early to tape Annie for them. I ended up seeing in the new millennium watching Annie, which was sad."

Liz agreed that the Millennium Dome was a waste of money.

"They've just ploughed more and more money into it when it wasn't working," she added.

Jeannine Chapman turned her attention to the Millennium Bridge in London.

"What a waste of money," said the 16-year-old. "They couldn't make any money off it so there was no hope of getting it back. What purpose does it serve? It's not going to attract anyone either.

"The Dome was a good idea, but the prices were too high for ordinary people."

Ross Atkinson, 18, thinks the national celebrations were quite good.

He said: "The television coverage of millennium night was fantastic and I was impressed by all the fireworks. They went on for more than half an hour.

"The Dome is a pile of rubbish, but nationally, I thought the celebrations were OK.

"Locally, unless you were going to a big organised event I don't think people were really bothered about it. I just went around to a friend's house and it was like any other night."

Older people in Ilkley were similarly unimpressed with the national millennium celebrations.

A volunteer worker at the Christchurch Coffee Shop on The Grove, Alan Lowe, said: "I think the Millennium Dome was an outrageous expense but I really don't have an opinion because I am so far removed from it. We did not think it would be worth travelling all the way to London for."

Mr Lowe, 76, of Ben Rhydding Road, praised local millennium projects such as the Churches Together in Ilkley purchase of a house for people with learning difficulties.

"It involved a lot of effort from all the churches and it is something permanent which will go on year after year," Mr Lowe said.

Jean Manuel and fellow Clarke Foley Centre volunteer Georgina Ferguson were also unimpressed with the national millennium celebrations.

"I think it has been a waste of money and the River of Fire was a damp squib - I couldn't see what they were talking about," said Mrs Manuel, 65, of Parish Ghyll Walk.

She added: "I will go to the wheel but that was hijacked a couple of days ago and the swinging bridge was a bit of a fiasco."

Both Mrs Manuel and Mrs Ferguson praised the French firework display at the Eiffel Tower in Parish which impressed them both.

Mrs Ferguson said: "All the millennium projects have fallen a bit flat and there was confusion over the correct date.

"There was a lot of money wasted on the Dome which could have been put to much better use in hospitals, or they could have got the railways running with the money, but it has been an awful waste."