RAIN FAILS TO DAMPEN SPIRITS

More than 1,000 people came from all over East Sussex to watch the proceedings get off to a bang at the fireworks display at Holy Cross School on Friday.

Uckfield Bonfire and Carnival Society (UBCS), which organises the event, reported lower numbers at the main torchlight procession on Saturday than in previous years because of the weather, but said the atmosphere was just as good thanks to the committed revellers.

UBCS Secretary Carol Watts-Arnold said: 'The people who did come and watch despite the downpour were the real stars of this year's event '“ they really made us proud to do what we do.

'The street collections were 1,000 down on last year, but actually we were very happy with that because we thought because the numbers were so down it would be a much bigger deficit. We have raised around 3,000 so far and we still have some collections coming in '“ so it was definitely not a wash out!'