MAJOR UK cities have cancelled their bonfire night festivities as the cost of living crisis puts a damp squib on celebrations around the country.

Manchester, Leeds, Hackney, Cardiff and Glasgow are just some of the areas cancelling their bonfire nights this year due to financial strains amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Manchester City Council announced today that "escalating costs" was partly to blame for its decision to call off their event, usually attracting more than 100,000 people.

A spokesperson for Manchester City Council gave locals the bad news today that their event would not be going ahead following a two-year lay-off.

They said: "A combination of factors including the escalating costs of delivering large bonfire events, increasing safety and organisational measures needed and increased pressure on Council budgets have ultimately led to the decision.

"The Council will assess the impact of this year's events not going ahead as part of a review into the approach to future bonfire events.

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"The Council is reprioritising its neighbourhoods funding to focus on a program of community events and activities throughout the winter focussing on fun, free activities for families and young people."

It comes as cash-strapped councils in Leeds, Hackney and Cardiff also put the dampeners on their firework displays, which commemorate the failure of the gunpowder plot.

And it will be the third successive year that Glasgow's popular spectacle has not happened after Covid-19 restrictions saw the event cancelled in 2020 and 2021.

Others authorities have also warned that they will need support to push on with their events as potential budget cuts loom on the horizon.

And some Guy Fawkes celebrations may never return, say local organisers.

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Councillor Lee Ann Igbon, executive member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods said: "The cost of delivering the event has escalated every year and to host large bonfire events we would have to plug the shortfall by diverting parks funding away from essential park services.

"Our Neighbourhood teams have been working tirelessly to re-prioritise the budget on community events and supporting our residents through the cost-of-living crisis."

Elsewhere, Hackney Council in London announced a need to "weigh up their priorities" following a recent hit on their finances.

And they also said their decision had aligned with environmental concerns about air quality and pollution from the fireworks.

Councillor Caroline Woodley, Cabinet Member for Families, Parks and Leisure, said: "While we're sorry not to be hosting a fireworks display in Clissold Park this year, we have to weigh up our priorities as our finances continue to come under pressure from rising inflation and costs."

In London, Arnos Grove, Blackheath and Southwark, have also put a stop to their community firework displays this year.

Cardiff's four-decade running event has further been cancelled "for the foreseeable future" because organisers can't keep up with the spiralling costs.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the annual Sparks in the Park event said: "Unfortunately, over the past few years we have faced escalating costs and organisational burdens, the same as so many of us have been feeling.

As a purely volunteer-driven event, where all profits raised are donated to local charities and good causes, it is no longer feasible for us to put on an event of this scale."

Likewise, Leeds City Council announced that constraints on their constituents' budgets were increasing demand for services and support.

Electricity, gas, and fuel costs have also drastically increased for the council and they expected restarting the bonfires this year would cost well over £200,000.

Normally the council funds licensed contractors to run free bonfires and fireworks events, including one at Roundhay Park that attracts thousands of people each year.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council's executive member for public health and active lifestyles, said rising costs mean they must cut all spending that is not essential.

She said: "It is obviously very disappointing for residents that bonfire and firework events cannot restart this year.

However the council must work hard on cutting all non-essential spend in the current financial climate.

"We certainly did not take this decision lightly, and we know that this news will come as a real disappointment to many people, and this disappointment is something that we share."

Seaford's popular bonfire night organisers have also been forced to begin crowdfunding for their free bonfire night because their costs have almost doubled over four years.

The East Sussex event normally brings in 10,000 people each year.

A Seaford Bonfire Society spokesperson said: "Our fixed costs continue to rise and have almost doubled over the last four years.

"These main costs being insurance, security, medics and event infrastructure. Without these in place we would simply not be given permission to hold our event."

A Yorkshire village have also cancelled their bonfire night festivities.

The organisers of the Tockwith Show have prioritised their strapped budget for their annual show instead.

Leverhulme Park's popular fireworks display in Bolton has similarly put their event on hold after previously taking two years off due to the pandemic.

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: “Rising costs have put significant pressure on all local authorities, and we have decided to refocus the council’s events budget.”

Councillors in Dundee have also been forced to re-distribute their £50,000 bonfire night budget to their annual winter events programme.

However, not every council is scrapping their Guy Fawkes's evenings, the huge Lewes Bonfire Night Celebrations are still going ahead.

Last year saw 25,000 to 30,000 people visit the massive fireworks event.

And in London, Wimbledon Park, Alexandra Palace, Morden Park, Chiswick Park, Battersea Park, Beckenham, and Barnes Sports Club are all still due to host their bonfire nights, rated the top seven London firework displays for 2022.

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