English riverside town axes fireworks display in ‘difficult decision’ after 90 years

A POPULAR fireworks display has been cancelled over fears it could spark a fire as the UK continues to experience drought. The display was designed to mark the 90th anniversary of a well-loved community event. The display has been axed following wildfire concerns (stock) Credit: Lu ShaoJi Manningtree Town Regatta’s firework display was due to go ahead on July 1 but was axed over safety concerns that the dry vegetation could spark. The long-running community event held on the River Stour, in Essex, had celebrated 90 years since its introduction, and was due to be commemorated by the display. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! But, a spokesman for the Regatta told the Saffron Walden Reporter: “Sadly we have taken the really difficult decision to cancel the Regatta Fireworks that were planned for this evening due to the drought conditions. “We are really grateful to Dynamic Fireworks for being so understanding, and enabling us to reschedule the display until a little later in the year. “We will rearrange for a bit later in the year when hopefully we will be complaining about the rain.” The regatta, on the other hand, went ahead as planned. This comes as a number of other displays have been cancelled over the past week as a result of dry ground conditions. In Malvern, Worcestershire, a fireworks display planned to celebrate the 60th anniversary of a steam festival had been called off due to the “risk” it could pose. Most read in The Sun While residents in Shropshire have been urged not to use fireworks in the coming weeks over fears of wildfires. According to the Environment Agency, around half of England is now officially in drought, as well as the entirety of Wales, after the driest July in 190 years. Comment now