I WAS surprised that the Independent County Councillor, Sam Zair, felt he had to apologise for the spectacular fireworks display put on at Auckland Castle on November 6.

The display was superb and, with the stirring music, it made a fantastic spectacle for the estimated 8,000 people in the audience.

There were not just ‘some’ people who enjoyed it, Mr Zair, there were many thousands. Judging by the applause at the end of the show, I assume the 8,000 people there had a great time, as I did.

Yes there was congestion getting in and out of the castle. However as we waited, people talked and laughed – sometimes at the organiser’s expense, certainly – but all I heard was the sound of loads of people enjoying themselves.

On walking through the Market Square and up Fore Bondgate around 8pm, the place was buzzing and all the food and drink retailers had queues.

So, Mr Zair, could you tell everybody how many people were killed, seriously injured, received any injury or had first aid treatment on the night of this alleged “shambles”? Perhaps in your questions you could ask how much was made by the food and drink retailers that night.

Nigel Bryson, Bishop Auckland.