Residents of South Street in Arbroath are up in arms after Angus Council removed a pile of wood which was intended for a bonfire on November 5.

The street’s bonfire traditionally brings people from surrounding streets together on Guy Fawkes Night.

Children go door to door to collect wood and, on the night, parents supervise the bonfire and fireworks.

Arbroath Community Council chairwoman Patricia Millar said people in South Street were “irate” that the collected wood was taken away last week.

A council spokeswoman said guidelines state that material collected before October 22 is treated as flytipping.

Mrs Millar said, “For a great number of years it has been a tradition that a bonfire is built in South Street. Parents organise the display for the children.

“It’s good because this is an organised display with supervision.”

She added, “People in the street are irate. The council has never before intervened in all the years that this has been going on.

“The event is always well supervised.”

A spokeswoman confirmed the council removed wood after complaints.

She said, “In line with advice from the fire and police authorities, the council is unable allow materials of this nature to accumulate on the beach for lengthy periods.

“However, from now until November 5 wood which has been gathered for a traditional bonfire will not be treated as flytipping.”