Booze ban at village bonfire

Alcohol has been banned from a free bonfire display which attracts hundreds of people to a Staffordshire village each year.

Great Wyrley Parish Council is hosting the event on Monday and brought in the new rule alongside changes to the set-up of the event. The annual bonfire has become a tradition in the village over the years. Parish council clerk Mike Holder said alcohol would be banned from the Star Lane, off Walsall Road, because of the large numbers of people expected to attend.

He said: "Due to the huge popularity of this event and the number of people attracted to it, the council has had to completely reorganise the internal layout of the site in order to open up a new exit and entrance off Hazel Lane.

"Pedestrians are encouraged to use this entrance by Great Wyrley Football Club to take the pressure off the entrance on the Walsall Road by The Star public house."

He added: "Sadly, due to the changed layout and for health and safety reasons, we cannot light the bonfire prior to the fireworks and, in fact, there has to be a period of time between the end of the fireworks and the lighting of the bonfire."

The fireworks display will start at 7.15pm and the bonfire will be lit between 7.45pm and 8pm.

Chairman of Great Wyrley Parish Council Councillor John Jones said: "The Great Wyrley fireworks display and bonfire has proved to be an increasingly popular event and it has been necessary for the safety of the public to make changes.

"Unfortunately we cannot light the bonfire until after the fireworks have been lit. We hope that the public will understand our reasons.

"The safety of the public, especially children, is paramount in our thinking.

"We hope everyone enjoys the event which is free. The Great Wyrley Carnival Committee will be having a collection and we hope everyone freely gives as the future of the carnival needs support."

Fireworks at the event have been provided by HFM Pyrotechnics in Longford.