2006-11-04 Yobs wreck Himley’s bonfire (By Wayne Beese)

The biggest bonfire in the Midlands was destroyed by yobs who set fire to hundreds of pallets piled up ready for the event, expected to attract a 30,000-strong crowd.
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An appeal has gone out for 1,000 wooden pallets as organisers face a race against time to save the centrepiece of the night at Himley Park, near Dudley.

Pictured: Sally Pazzalunga and Adrian butcher at the site of the bonfire.

Donations are already flooding in and volunteers are being sought to join the scores of council workers who will spend all day tomorrow in a desperate bid to rebuild the bonfire.

Organisers had spent £32,000 on this year’s event and £20,000 on fireworks alone, making it the biggest event of its type in the Midlands and one of the largest in the country.

A group of youths broke into the park just after 7pm last night. After evading security guards on the site for more than 20 minutes, one of the louts scaled a 6ft grill fence sealing off the bonfire off and set fire to the wooden pallets.
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Fire crews were called but were unable to save any of the pallets reserved for Saturday’s Strictly Fireworks extravaganza , set to music inspired by the hit TV show Strictly Come Dancing.

The gang fled the scene.

Before yobs destroyed the massive bonfireDudley Council principal leisure officer Sally Piazzalunga said today: “The only people these yobs are hurting are the thousands of other young kids who potentially could have missed out on seeing a traditional bonfire. That is a shame but we won’t disappoint them.

Pictured right: just days ago Himley completed their massive bonfire, now they must start again

“We are putting out the call for help - we need around 1,000 wooden pallets and we are going to have to put the bonfire together in one day. Normally it would take three or four.

“It will be all hands to the pump but the bonfire will still go ahead.”

Miss Piazzalunga said several council workers had already called her to volunteer their services tomorrow.

Anyone else who can help out with the bonfire effort is urged to call Himley Hall on 01384 817817.