A COMMUNITY fireworks display is going ahead after a successful fundraising campaign to save it.

Stanley Town Council, which had helped fund Bonfire Night fun Oakies Park for the last five years, turned down an application for £9,520 last month.

The organisers at Stanley Events launched an appeal so it could go ahead and have now confirmed the free Guy Fawkes night event will be on November 5 as planned.

About 10,000 people are expected at the children’s film themed event, which costs around £15,000 to organise and includes entertainment, food and drinks, children’s mascots and a 22 minute fireworks display choreographed to music.

It had already been awarded £5,000 from the Stanley Area Action Partnership, £1,000 was raised from the local community and £9,000 from the community budgets of county and town councillors.

Durham County Councillor Carl Marshall, a director of Stanley Events, said “We are delighted that despite the decision by Stanley Town Council not to support a fireworks display in the town, the community has come together.

“We would like to thank those members of the community who have contributed to the crowd funding appeal, organised local fundraising events and to those Labour councillors who have contributed to the funds from their local member budgets.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support shown for this event and we are absolutely delighted that thanks to that support sufficient funds for the event have been secured.”

The event starts at 5pm with the fireworks going off at 7pm.