A Darlington councillor has reiterated that this year's fireworks display in the town has been cancelled - as the cancellation leaves numerous residents angered. 

Earlier this year, it was announced that this year that this year's event in South Park wouldn't be going ahead, citing that it was too expensive and the council did not have the funds to deliver the display.

Off the back of the cancellation, former Leader of Darlington Borough Council, Cllr Jonathan Dulston, on Thursday (October 5) reiterated that the fireworks will not be going ahead.

He said: "I’ve been inundated with messages overnight asking if the South Park Fireworks are on this year. THE ANSWER IS NO UNFORTUNATELY!

"Last March as leader of the council I agreed that we would put the event on for a second year running and allocated £60,000 towards the cost with the understanding that a number of local businesses would contribute another £60,000 and that we may explore charging a small price for the tickets.

"Unfortunately, when the Darlington Labour Party took control of the council in May they reversed our decision and cancelled them altogether.

"I have had many conversations about the positive impact this had on residents by bringing our communities together but sadly the new administration doesn’t feel the same way!"

Peter Gibson, MP for Darlington, said he was disappointed by the news and questioned the decision.

He said: "Very sadly South Park Fireworks will not happen this year, and whilst I appreciate that that is the decision of Darlington Labours controlling group, I hope that measures can be put in place with our emergency services to ensure that we don’t see an increase in the anti-social behaviour with fireworks in the weeks around bonfire night and injuries from fireworks which we saw a reduction in whilst the South Park Fireworks happened.

"It is a simple fact that organised displays reduce the impact on our community in a host of ways including the welfare of animals."

At the time of the cancellation, the leader of Darlington, Borough Council, Stephen Harker, said the money approved in this year's budget would not cover the costs, meaning residents would have needed to pay higher ticket prices.

The news was met by residents with disappointment, with some urging the council to proceed with the event.

At the time, Mr Harker said: “As a council, we are committed to delivering our varied events programme, and keen to build on that success.

"Although last year’s fireworks display was successful and well-attended, it was an expensive event to deliver to modern standards of event management and safety.

"The money approved in the budget earlier this year would not cover the costs and would have meant a relatively high ticket price would have had to be charged.

“Given the current financial pressures on households, we believe a free events programme, that is accessible to all, is the right approach and the money in the budget identified to go towards the cost of a fireworks display, should be re-purposed.”