Thousands of people lined Burnham’s seafront last night (Sunday) to watch a spectacular display of fireworks to start the town’s carnival festivities.
An estimated crowd of well over 5,000 people crowded The Esplanade and neighbouring streets to watch a sparking colourful 20-minute display, which was fired from the town’s jetty.
There was a short delay to the display by around ten minutes to allow for last-minute safety checks, and to enable a search for a four year-old boy who’d briefly gone missing in the crowds before being safe and well.
Over 4,000 sparkling shots soared into the air above the beach, accompanied by a programme of modern music.
A series of horizontal ‘carpet shells’ were also fired horizontally over the beach at one point with the red lights falling onto the sand resembling poppies for Remembrance Sunday.
Burnham’s Mayor Cllr Michael Clarke told Burnham-On-Sea.com afterwards: “It was a fantastic show and it was great to see such large crowds come out to enjoy it.”
“We had our fingers crossed all day that the wind would not halt the display, and the weather was kind in the end.”
This year’s display, enjoyed by the crowds, overseen by Skyburst Illuminations and were funded by Burnham and Highbridge Town Council with the support of local businesses including Home Farm Holiday Park, Positive Wealth Creation, Retreat Caravan Park, Highbridge Caravans, Co-Op Funeral Care and PJ Harris Funeral Services.
The display was organised by Burnham and Highbridge Town Council in the run-up to Monday’s Burnham-On-Sea Carnival. Charity donations were collected by the Rotary Club.
Pictures: Luke Organ, Burnham-On-Sea.com and Alison Donnellan
