A COMMUNITY bonfire that attracted thousands of visitors every year is unlikely to return to Burnley in the near future.

This year will mark the third consecutive year that the Burnley Community Bonfire has been absent from the town.

It had been popular for more than 20 years, but lost its regular venue when Lancashire County Council spent more than £1million developing Fulledge Recreation Ground.

Since then it has failed to find a new site and the Lions Club, which used to organise the event, has pulled out of running it.

Peter Ashkettle, treasurer of Burnley Lions Club, said: “We have stopped doing it now.

"A lot of our members are just too old to carry on with it.

"It takes a lot of work and a lot of effort to build the bonfire.

"We took it over from the Rotary Club for similar reasons.

“The site that we used has also been redeveloped in the past two years and we can’t hold it there now, so it has just died a death really.”

The council said it has not been informed of any large bonfires taking place in the town this year.

It is holding a Hallowe’en event for children on October 30, from 11am to 2pm in Scott Park, featuring a pumpkin trail walk and fancy dress.

Gordon Birtwistle, leader of Burnley Council, said: “We don’t have anywhere to have the community bonfire, or anybody to run it now.

“I don’t think community bonfires are really very pop-ular any more either.

“Organised firework displays are very popular, but not big bonfires.

“There are plenty of large firework displays that take place in the town every year.”