Friday night’s firework display on Bournemouth beach was cancelled following a UK Government wildfire emergency alert.
The alert, sent on Friday, asks landowners to stop any activity with the potential to start a fire, including fireworks, prompting organisers to call off the planned display on Bournemouth seafront.
Organisers said they had taken the “difficult decision” to cancel the event, acknowledging that people planning to attend may be disappointed by the change to the summer events programme.
Although the fireworks are launched from the sea, the statement said the safety of residents, visitors and open spaces “must come first” following the emergency warning issued by the Government.
The cancellation affects this week’s display only, with no further information provided in the statement about any other planned fireworks or whether future events in Bournemouth will be affected by the wildfire risk.
Organisers have apologised for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation, which was announced after the Government alert asked landowners to avoid activities capable of starting fires.
The fireworks at the Christchurch Carnival, planned for Saturday evening, has also been cancelled for this year.
