The Lions Club of Rutland has announced they will be putting an end to their popular annual fireworks display, after running for forty years.

In a statement from Allan Grey, Lions Club president, he said: 'After much consideration, The Lions Club of Rutland Trustees have decided there will be no fireworks display at the Rutland Showground this year; sadly, the event has outgrown the ability of the club to organise and deliver the much loved display.'

The fireworks display has been organised for over forty years by the Lions, initially taking place on Oakham School property, then moving to the old Rutland Showground before settling at the new Rutland Showground from 2014.

'The event has always been one of the major fundraisers,' said Allan, 'enabling the Lions Club to support many Rutland residents and local deserving causes via substantial donations, and has become increasingly popular, with several thousand people attending the displays in recent years.'

The club cite one of the reasons behind no longer running the fireworks is the number of attendees has made organisation much more challenging.

Every year, several thousand people gather on the showground to enjoy the fireworks but 'as the attendance has grown, so have all the health and safety considerations,' Allan explains.

'As the event has grown, so have the resources required to safely deliver, with the Lions now needing to engage between 40 and 45 volunteers to marshal the event, both within the showground and at the various off-street parking and road crossing locations that are now required, the major risk coming at the end of the display, and getting several thousand people safely back to the bypass in a short time.'

Allan added that in 2027, Martyn's Law will come into effect, requiring anti-terrorism risk management controls to be put in place. This was introduced following the Manchester Arena bombing.

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Allan ended his statement by saying: 'The Lions Club would like to thank the many individuals and organisations that have enabled them to stage this annual event for so many years.

'First and foremost, the Rutland Agricultural Society, allowing the Lions use of the Showground, Oakham Rugby Club for organising catering and use of the club bar, off site Lands' End, Mecc Alte and several other local businesses, allowing use of their car parks to reduce residential road congestion.

'Thank you everyone.'