HOLYBOURNE Village Association held their first bonfire and fireworks extravaganza on November 7 after taking the reins of the traditional event from the village cricket club, who ran it for 18 years.

And it was a resounding success with more than 500 tickets sold in advance and crowds flooding onto the sports field to see the display.

Association chairman David Tomlinson said as it was the first time they had been in charge of such an important village celebration and they made sure nothing was left to chance, including hiring a “firer” in Barry Alderslade, who had firework training before lighting the first fuses.

The bonfire, complete with a guy made by pupils of St Andrews Endowed School, was also spectacular and as well as the display there was plenty of food and drink on offer, including a hog roast run by The White Hart pub, who were also in charge of the beer tent, while The Queens Head provided soup and rolls and a selection of hot food.

St John Ambulance was standing by throughout the evening but they weren’t called into action.

Mr Tomlinson said: “Everything went very well. We had a very good crowd and Barry made sure the display went off safely.”

The event, he said, was run “by the village for the village” and not as a fundraiser.

“But any surplus left over after we have paid all the expenses will go toward next year’s bonfire and fireworks and we hope it will be as successful as our first one.”

For more pictures from bonfire and fireworks night in Holybourne, see this week’s Alton Herald.