THE future of a community bonfire could be in doubt after vandals threw a memorial bench onto the hot ashes.

The RAF memorial seat was stolen from Bedale churchyard and thrown onto the embers of the village bonfire in Bedale Hall park on November 2.

Fireworks committee chairman John Noone said the bonfire's future would have to be considered, although the fireworks would still go ahead.

He spoke after complaints that ash from the fire had not been removed from the park two weeks after the event.

He said: "We like to have all the ash cleared away in the first week after the event, but I have been away for a few days and we have not been able to coordinate the skips for it this year.

"We recognise that people want a bonfire, but it has got too big. We will have to consider whether we have a smaller one next year, cordoning it off, discouraging people from bringing material for it and having just a few pallets."