A FIRE chief has spoken of his 'great sadness' after one of York’s biggest bonfires and firework displays - scheduled for next weekend - had to be cancelled.

The annual Guy Fawkes charity event has been held since 2014 at Rawcliffe Country Park, attracting crowds of several thousand spectators every year.

It is organised by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and has raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Fire Fighters Charity.

Next weekend's event was set to have been the 'biggest bonfire and firework display yet,' according to a sign outside York fire station in Kent Street, and was to have included a laser show, live music, fun fair rides and refreshments.

But the sign also states that the event has been cancelled 'due to ground conditions.'

Station manager Tony Walker has tweeted of the service's 'great sadness' and apologised that it had had to cancel the event.

He said it had been a 'hard decision to make', but recent weather conditions had made the field unsuitable for the event.

He added that the service appreciated everyone who had supported and attended the bonfire and firework display in the past, and hoped to be back in 2020.

The cancellation will come as a disappointment to many people, such as nearby resident Natalie Hoyland, who said last year that she came to it every year, adding: "It's well organised, you know you are in safe hands with the firefighters, what more could you want?"

It also appears to leave the city of Guy Fawkes birthplace with precious few major public fireworks displays and bonfires to commemorate the 'gunpowder, treason and plot' of 1605.

*Are you organising a public bonfire or fireworks display? Email details to mike.laycock@thepress.co.uk so we can let readers know where they can go to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night.