A bonfire night event which attracts thousands of people every year has been cancelled due to the “mammoth” three-month-long clean-up task.

The highly-anticipated display in Tyler Hill near Canterbury has been axed after organisers found themselves still clearing mess in February this year from November’s event.

For more than 30 years, the annual Guy Fawkes spectacle has drawn the masses to Hackington with its bonfire, music, fireworks, fairground rides and food stalls.

But the parish council revealed the family event won’t be happening on November 5 at a recent meeting.

Parish council chairwoman Ania Bobrowicz said: “Setting it up for the night and clearing up afterwards is a mammoth task.

“This issue is demonstrated by the fact that clearing up from the bonfire was still continuing in February this year.

“The event takes an enormous amount of organisation.

“Over the years it has become more bureaucratic to stage, with insurers requiring more information around safety and the necessity to employ a security company.”

For the event to happen, Canterbury City Council must be consulted for a road closure order so thousands can attend via Canterbury Hill and Wood Hill, she explained.

“Over the last few years, it has been increasingly more difficult to recruit volunteer helpers and it falls to the same small group, mainly the hall committee members,” she added.

Run by the Tyler Hill Memorial Hall Committee in the village, Cllr Bobrowicz said the event is its main source of fundraising.

Other ways to raise money will now be explored, with the committee looking for people who can help apply for grants and fundraise.

Several members of the committee, including the chair and treasurer, are standing down with an AGM to be held on April 28.

It will reconsider whether to hold it again as usual in 2025.

Cllr Steph Jupes (Lib Dem), who represents the area on Canterbury City Council said: “It’s such a shame and will be very much missed.

“It has been a brilliant event for the local community for a long time.”

She continued: “It’s further evidence of how price hikes across the board are causing tangible, real-life negative effects on normal people.”

Fellow ward councillor Alex Ricketts (Lib Dem) added: “It’s a shame it’s not going to go ahead - it’s a fantastic event for the local community.

“Perhaps it’s a victim of its own success because it’s become a district-wide event to go to - which means it’s always really busy.

“It’s just a shame that it might be too big of an event to hold and I hope it’ll come back at some point in the future.

“Over the last few years, it has been increasingly difficult to recruit volunteer helpers and it falls to the same small group, mainly the hall committee members.”

Tyler Hill Memorial Hall Committee declined to comment.

The website for the annual event reads: “Our bonfire is truly a site to behold, standing nearly as high as a house!

“This is built by locals and villagers over a period of six weeks and takes a lot of expertise to ensure we have a good blaze on the night.

“We pride ourselves that our firework display is one of the best around.”