SANDOWN’S Bonfire Night annual carnival and fireworks was in danger of being rained off for the second year in a row, but the rain eased enough for the festivities to go ahead.

At 6pm the 14 Inch Remotes kicked off the proceedings on the Esplanade and there was a Fire Show on the beach.

Then at 6.30pm the Parade left the Town hall and featured Mas Fusion, Haylands Samba, loads of floats and a host of lanterns made by local children and adults.

At 7pm the Parade arrived at the seafront to Samba music and there was a fire and pyrotechnic show on the beach to banish the rainy evening blues.

This was all topped off with a magical Grand Firework Finale to the evening, which was hailed as the biggest Bonfire Night display of the year.

Sponsored by Sandown Pier and Sandown Town Council there was concern that the public were not being generous enough with their donations with only £500 being collected towards the £4,000 cost of the evening.

“It’s a sad fact that in these difficult times people think that a public display of fireworks ought to be free, rather than digging into their pockets,” said one collector who preferred to remain anonymous.

“I can see their point – it isn’t advertised as costing anything, but perhaps people ought to be a little more forward thinking. After all we want as good a display next year.”