South Shields firework displays cancelled due to high winds

As thousands of people gathered ready for the children’s display due to begin at 6.30pm, a public address system announcement went out saying that both the children’s display, and the larger version due to begin at 8pm, had been cancelled due to the high winds.

Test fireworks had gone up moments before, after which organisers decided that it was not safe to hold the two displays.

Parking refunds are being given to those who had already parked up for the free spectacular.

Tom Banks, who had already arrived at the scene, said: “I saw some fireworks going up and thought I had missed it, but they were just test fireworks. At about 6.15pm they put a Tannoy announcement out saying it wasn’t safe to hold the display and that they were really disappointed.

“Cars are still piling in here and there are thousands of people here already so it’s a real shame.”

Both displays, organised by South Tyneside Council and Ocean Beach Pleasure Park, were due to have a film theme to tie in with the return of the drive-in movies screenings in Bents Park.