THE organisers of Clitheroe's annual bonfire have pulled the plug on this year's event for reasons of "public safety."

A bonfire and firework display has been hosted for the past 20 years on Clitheroe Castle field by Clitheroe and Ribblesdale Rotary clubs and Rotaract.

It has regularly attracted huge crowds and raised hundreds of pounds for charity.

But last year's event attracted adverse publicity when a gust of wind blew sparks into a spectator's face.

Organisers have cancelled November's bonfire in the interest of "public safety" and the "substantial demands" it places on them.

A spokesman said: "Safety requirements placed on the organisers of large-scale public events are now such that a major review of procedures took place during the summer.

"We concluded after careful consideration that the training and resource implications were such that we could not have new arrangements in place in time for November and, consequently, the event has been cancelled.

"We have organised and run the event for the benefit local people for many years, but our members are growing older and it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to fulfill the substantial commitment required."

Any future event would depend on a "redistribution of responsibilities" and it was "difficult to say at this stage" if organisers would be in a position to go ahead with a bonfire next year, he added.

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