Village rallies to save bonfire

Disaster struck in the early hours of Friday morning, when piles of wood set aside for the bonfire were set alight prematurely.

Firefighters from Mytholmroyd and Todmorden were called to Heptonstall Social and Bowling Club at around 2.40am, where wood for the bonfire was ablaze.

Fire crews had to monitor the bonfire until it burnt out and the scene was cleared by 4am that morning.

Speaking at the time, watch commander Carl Fielden, of Todmorden Fire Station, said: “It’s really unfortunate that people have put all that effort into it for somebody to do that.”

Despite the setback, the club called on people to help the night go ahead as planned.

A statement read: “The premature lighting of our bonfire last night will not dampen our spirits. We will not be beaten. We have all worked far too hard for some low life to ruin it.

“This is the club’s biggest night of the year, we really need your help.”

Within hours, residents and companies had sprung to action to donate wood for the plot.

Photographer Bruce Cutts was on site to capture the moment volunteers stepped in to take delivery of the donated wood and rebuild the bonfire.

He said: “Following the premature lighting of the Heptonstall bonfire the night before the event at the Heptonstall bowling club, the whole village rallied round to ensure that the premature burning did not dampen the village spirits.

“Tonnes of further wood was delivered on Friday, donated from many individuals and local firms.

“This is always the bowling club’s biggest night of the year and it was heartening to see that with great community support the community helped to put this right.”

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