Visitors warned to avoid town's bonfire event

Tens of thousands attend the Lewes Bonfire procession every November

Visitors are being warned not to travel to an East Sussex town for its annual bonfire celebrations on Wednesday due to concerns about overcrowding.

Tens of thousands of people attend the Lewes Bonfire procession in the town every November.

Road closures and parking restrictions are being brought in on Wednesday to help manage numbers attending and trains will not stop in the town.

Ch Supt Katy Woolford, from Sussex Police, said: "This is an event for local people and we would urge people from further afield not to come to Lewes."

She added: "It's a small town with narrow streets and we get very worried about crowd density."

An estimated 40,000 people attended the annual bonfire event in Lewes in 2024.

The different bonfire societies march with huge effigies, holding burning torches along the town's streets.

About 400 police officers will be on duty on Wednesday evening.

Mick Symes, from Lewes Borough Bonfire Society, is advising people to spread out on the night

Mick Symes, chair of Lewes Borough Bonfire Society, said: "It is a small town and doesn't work well when there are masses of people."

He added: "There is room if people keep spread out."

Jon Cater, Lewes station commander for East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, said: "We advise that people go to their own local events."

Bryn Mabey, from Lewes District Council, said: "As a town that benefits from tourism throughout the year it does feel slightly strange asking people not to come for that one night.

"Ultimately our priority is public safety."

Trains will not stop at Lewes, Falmer, Cooksbridge, Glynde and Southease from 17:00 GMT on Wednesday until the start of service on Thursday.

Lewes residents have been advised to get vehicles home before 16:00 to avoid any road closures.

Those closures will take effect from 16:45.

Full details are available on the Lewes District Council's website.

Visitors are being advised not to bring vehicles into the town.

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