Glenrothes’ annual fireworks display has not been allowed to fizzle out after emergency funds were granted to stage the event.
Town councillors have approved £15,000 to stage the display at Gilvenbank Park after volunteers could not commit to organising the festivities.
The risk to the popular gathering only emerged in recent days, with town councillors reluctant to let the community event disappear from the calendar.
However, the short notice means that a private firm will now be paid to ensure that this year’s event does go with a bang, albeit at considerable cost.
“The display is important to the town,” said councillor Bill Brown, chairman of the Glenrothes area committee.
“Hundreds of people go along and look forward to it every year and it brings the community together.
“Yes, there is a cost involved but the area committee is happy to spend it on this occasion.
“It’s a small price to pay for something that means so much to so many people.”
The 11th-hour approach for community funds came after volunteers of the Glenrothes Fireworks Committee said that they could not deliver this year’s festivities due to a lack of volunteer time.
A professional company will now be hired to stage the event at Gilvenbank Park on Friday November 6, with the £15,000 fee also covering stewarding and first aid costs.
It is not the first time that the town’s bonfire night has run into difficulties.
Two years ago the event was saved following an appeal in The Courier after a shortage of funds and willing volunteers placed it in doubt.
The local authority also intervened on that occasion, relocating the display to its current home at Gilvenbank Park in the north of the town.
Up until 2012 the local Round Table had organised the annual display for the previous 30 years, with volunteers taking donations throughout the evening to purchase fireworks for the following year.
The bonfire night festivities traditionally took place at Warout playing fields before moving to Riverside Park for one year in 2012.