A FIREWORKS display which attracts thousands of people every year has been axed because there is nowhere to stage it.

Bishop Auckland fireworks display has been held at the town’s rugby club in recent years.

However, club officials said after failing to receive a commitment from Durham County Council earlier this year that the venue would be required again, they went ahead with £4,000 of improvements to the pitches and the ground.

Council officers have spent the past two weeks visiting possible locations, but none of which would be large enough to meet safety and access guidelines.

Terry Collins, the council’s corporate director of neighbourhood services, said: “We have explored every suggestion and I am really sad to say we are now at the stage whereby we have to say we can’t go ahead this year.

“I realise this will be really disappointing for many of the families who have enjoyed the display, but we have no alternative but to cancel it.

“I am grateful to everyone involved, including the local members, for all their efforts in trying to help us find an alternative venue.

“To compensate as best we can and as a goodwill gesture we have offered each of the three local Area Action Partnerships (AAP) £3,000 to support other community events in their areas.

“While I realise this isn’t going to replace what has been lost, it will at least mean that residents in the former Wear Valley area still benefit from the funds set aside for the fireworks.”

Peter Gallone, development officer at Bishop Auckland Rugby Club, said: “We asked the council in February if they were likely to want to use the site. They couldn’t commit so we told them we were going to do some improvement work.

“We would not rule out holding the firework display again in the future, but it is something we would have to discuss.”

Those benefiting from the AAP funding are Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP, Weardale AAP and 3 Towns AAP.