Littlehampton bonfire future under threat after 11th hour cancellation

Littlehampton Bonfire Society says the event 's future is in doubt after its last minute cancellation this year

The future of Littlehampton bonfire society in West Sussex has been placed under threat after its event year was cancelled because of bad weather.

The event had to be axed at the 11th hour last month after heavy rain and a tornado swept through the area.

The bonfire society said it lost £15,000 because of the last-minute cancellation, which has now put next year's event in jeopardy.

The society has launched an appeal to raise funds.

The event, which includes a parade, has been run for 71 years and this year's bonfire would have cost £31,000 to put on.

Rising costs mean the estimate for 2024 is set to be in the region of £34,000.

This year's extreme weather meant the torchlight parade, bonfire and fireworks could not go ahead due to West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service being unable to guarantee to keep the event safe.

The society said it was investigating other forms of revenue, such as sponsorship, and had set itself a deadline of 7 February to raise at least £10,000.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].