HARRY POTTER fans are being invited to a bonfire featuring the Hogwarts Express.

Since 1982, the coastal community of Skinningrove, in east Cleveland, has gained a reputation for building bonfires in spectacular shapes.

One year, the bonfire was in the form of a huge merman with a long tail.

One of the leading lights of the Skinningrove Bonfire Committee lives hundreds of miles away in Devon. Richard Baker, formerly of Teesside, is a wizard when it comes to turning a mountain of wooden pallets and boxes into fantastic forms.

Committee spokeswoman Tina Dowey said: "He can turn his hand to anything and he can make a pile of wood into amazing shapes."

Past creations have also included a copy of the Houses of Parliament, a Viking ship, a dragon and the mouth of Hell, inspired by memories of a one-legged miner locals called Fiery Jack.

Mr Baker and the 11 other committee members have spent the past two weeks creating a bonfire in the shape of a 30-yards long Hogwarts Express, which features in the JK Rowling books.

Mrs Dowey said: "It's a shame to set fire to them after all the work. I don't think we will ever run out ideas now we have started on books."

Fireworks will begin at 6.30pm and the bonfire will be lit at 7.30pm.

WHAT'S ON WHERE

COUNTY DURHAM

Bishop Auckland: Thursday. Fireworks display and bonfire at Bishop Auckland Rugby Club, West Mills Playing Fields, underneath Newton Cap viaduct. Funfair and food stalls open at 5.30pm. Bonfire at 7pm, fireworks and music from 7.20pm. Telephone (01388) 761558.

Chester-le-Street: Saturday. Chester-le-Street Cricket Club, Ropery Lane Ground, from 7pm. Admission £2 for adults, £1.50 for children.

COCKERTON: Sunday. Cockerton Primary School fireworks display from 7pm. Admission £1.50, to go towards school funds.

Crook: Saturday. Crook Cricket Club. Fireworks at 7.45pm. Admission £1 for adults and 50p for under-16s.

DARLINGTON: Saturday. Bonfire and fireworks in South Park. Gates open 6pm, bonfire at 7pm, fireworks at 7.30pm. Refreshments available.

DURHAM: Friday. On playing field at force headquarters, Aykley Heads. Entry from 5pm. Bonfire at 6.45pm, fireworks at 7.15pm. Adult admission £2, children £1, under-fives free.

GAINFORD: Saturday. Gainford village green. Bonfire at 6.30pm. Fireworks at 7pm. Free admission, with collection at the event.

HEIGHINGTON: Friday. Bonfire on West Green lit at 6.30pm. Two areas of the green have been set aside for fireworks and sparklers -those areas stewarded until 9pm.

HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING: Friday. Hetton Lyons Cricket Club. Gates open 6pm. Fireworks display and funfair with children's rides and sideshows.

Lanchester: Saturday. Kitswell Road Playing Fields, Lanchester, from 6.30pm.

MIDDLETON-IN-TEESDALE: Saturday. Middleton Primary School field. Display at 7pm by Middleton Fire Service and Carnival Committee. Donations at the gate.

PETERLEE: Friday. Halford Road Playing Fields. Fireworks at 6.15pm.

REDWORTH: Saturday. Bonfire on the village green. All guys to be taken to the village hall for 5.30pm for judging. Bonfire at 6pm. An area of the green will be cordoned off for anyone wanting to let off fireworks. Refreshments available.

SCHOOL AYCLIFFE: Friday. Bonfire and fireworks at 7pm at Oak Leaf Sports Complex, School Aycliffe Lane, Newton Aycliffe.

Seaham: Thursday. Seaham seafront next to harbour area. Fireworks at 7pm.

SEDGEFIELD: Friday. Hardwick Country Park, bonfire at 6.30pm, fireworks from 7.30pm. Admission £2 for adults, free for children.

SEDGEFIELD: Saturday. Ceddesfeld Hall, starting at 6.30pm. Admission £1 for adults, 50p for children. No private fireworks.

SHADFORTH: Saturday. Shadforth playing fields, Bonfire at 6.30pm, fireworks at 7pm. Admission free, but donations requested.

SPENNYMOOR: Friday. High Whitworth, opposite Carr Lane. Bonfire at 7pm, fireworks at 7.30pm.

STARTFORTH: Thursday. Startforth Hall. Bonfire and fireworks from 6.30pm Proceeds in aid of 1st Barnard Castle Scouts. Admission £4 for adults, £3 for children. Family tickets £10.

TEESSIDE

GRANGETOWN: Friday. The old Stapylton School site, Church Lane, Eston, fireworks from 6pm.

GUISBOROUGH: Friday. King George V Playing Fields. Fireworks at 7.30pm.

Redcar: Friday. Fireworks at Redcar Racecourse. Gates open 6pm, Abba tribute band Abba Forever on stage at 6.30pm. Fireworks at 7.30pm. Tickets £1, from town centre shops and Redcar tourist information centre.

SEATON CAREW: Saturday. Free event starts 4pm at The Front, fireworks from 6.30pm. Theme is movie blockbusters. Buses will leave from Hartlepool's Tesco car park, Burn Road, from 5.15pm.

SKINNINGROVE: Friday. Hogwarts Express bonfire on beach at 6.30pm. Fireworks from 7pm, bonfire lit from 7.30pm.

STOCKTON: Friday. The Riverside. Fireworks from 6.30pm. There will also be a funfair and music. Admission is free.

TYNE AND WEAR

GATESHEAD: Friday. Saltwell Park. Bonfire lit 7pm. Fireworks at 7.30pm.

HERRINGTON BURN: Friday. YMCA Herrington Burn. Gates open 5.30pm, bonfire at 7.05pm, fireworks from 7.15pm. Admission £2 for adults, £1.50 for children/OAPs. Telephone 0191-385 2822.

SUNDERLAND: Friday. Ashbrooke Cricket Ground. Starts 6pm, fireworks from 7.30pm. Tickets £3, on 0191- 528 4536.

NORTH YORKSHIRE

Bedale: Saturday. Bedale Hall from 6.30pm.

EASINGWOLD: Friday. Nova Farm, Penny Carr Lane. Gates open 6pm, bonfire at 6.30pm, fireworks at 7pm. Admission £2 for adults, £1 for under 16s.

HARROGATE: Friday. Oatlands Stray. Fireworks at 7pm.

HAWES: Friday. Community Field. Bonfire and fireworks from 6.30pm.

HELMSLEY: Saturday. Sports and Social Club, Baxtons Road. Bonfire at 6.45pm. Fireworks at 7pm. Admission £3 for adults, £2 for children.

LEYBURN: Friday. The Shawl. Bonfire and fireworks from 6.30pm.

MASHAM: Saturday. The Holme. Bonfire at 6.30pm. Fireworks from 7pm.

NORTHALLERTON: Friday. Applegarth park. Fireworks at 6.45pm and bonfire at 7.15pm.

NORTON: Friday. Brooklyn Centre, in Norton. Bonfire at 6.30pm. Fireworks at 7pm. Admission £5 for adults, £2.50 for children.

REETH: Friday. The Green. Guy judging from 6pm. Bonfire and fireworks from 7pm.

RICHMOND: Friday. The Castle. Gates open 6pm, fireworks from 7pm. Family ticket (two adults and two children) is £7.

RIPON: Saturday. Studley Road Rugby Club. Fireworks and bonfire from 6pm. Entry £3.

SCARBOROUGH: Friday. Burniston Road car park. Gates open 5.30pm. Bonfire at 6pm, fireworks at 6.30pm.

THIRSK: Saturday. Newsham Road. Bonfire at 7pm, fireworks at 7.30pm. Admission £3 for adults, free for children.

WHITBY: Friday. Helredale Play Centre. Doors open 6pm. Fireworks at 6.30pm. Tickets on (01947) 820464.