ONE of the region’s most well attended bonfire events will return next month – with a pigeon theme.

This year’s Skinningrove Bonfire will be held on Saturday, November 4 and will once again take place at the village’s beach and seafront.

The event is free to attend but does rely on public donations to keep going so collectors will be on hand during the evening to help raise funds.

John Roberts, from Skinningrove Bonfire Committee, said the theme was chosen to celebrate the rich history of pigeon keeping and racing in Skinningrove, but it was chosen in unusual circumstances.

“It was just one of those things," he said. "We had a meeting of the bonfire committee in the spring when planning began, and one member looked out the window and saw a pigeon, and it went from there.

“It is part of the scenery as well as the history and heritage of Skinningrove.”

Skinningrove, a small village between Whitby and Saltburn, has hosted an annual bonfire since 1982 with just two cancellations – in 2000 and 2013 – when flooding ruled it out.

“The number of public bonfires are declining because local authorities can’t fund them and there are more health and safety concerns, but ours has been going for 35 years," he said.

“It costs thousands of pounds to put on, with the fireworks and all the stewards – it is a big operation, but we want to keep doing it to say thank you to the community.”

Last year’s theme celebrated 200 years of the alum industry operating in east Cleveland until its demise in the 1870s

Mr Roberts, who expects another good turn out for this year’s event, said: “Last year we had a lot of wind which caused big waves, so it got postponed until the Monday (November 7), and even then it was still pouring down.

“You can never count exactly how many people turn up, but it is certainly several thousand – some come from far and wide as well.

“Some years ago, Skinningrove was in a sorry state, but now it has cafes, a guest house and self-catering accommodation – which is all part of that strong community spirit.

“The reason I think everyone comes to us is every year is different – no two years are ever the same."