Remember the Fifth of November! Thousands of people attend bonfire nights across the UK including famous Lewes event where effigies of Guy Fawkes and politicians are burned

Thousands of people have attended bonfire night across the UK, with effigies of Rishi Sunak and Guy Fawkes being amongst those burnt at the famous Lewes celebration.

The streets in East Sussex – dubbed the bonfire capital of the world – were turned into a riot of colour and noise, as hoards of people gathered to watch bonfire societies parade through.

The autumnal festival continued despite weather warnings of heavy rain and travel disruption, such as closed off roads, caused by Storm Ciaran. 

Each year effigies, often reflective of the political climate, are burnt on the fields outside the town. This year, along with the Prime Minister, an effigy of Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Jeremy Hunt driving a train with HS2 scrawled on the sign was burnt.

It comes after the highly anticipated rail projected was axed earlier this year. 

In previous years effigies of former Prime Minister’s Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Tony Blair, as well as the under-fire pandemic health secretary Matt Hancock and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

An efergy of The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP is drawn through the streets during the Lewes Bonfire celebrations in East Sussex 

A Guy Fawkes effigy is rolled through Lewes as thousands turned out to mark the celebration

Hundreds crowded onto the streets of the historic town to mark Bonfire Night 

In London, up to 50,000 people crowded into Battersea Park to watch an elaborate display that lit up the sky over the newly converted Battersea Power Station

Lewes is famed for its topical and sometimes controversial bonfire night effigies and usually attracts thousands if not tens of thousands of revellers.

The popular night commemorates a two-year martyrdom known as the Marian Persecutions. 

Bloody Marry infamously ordered the burning of 288 Protestants and 17 were killed in Lewes between 1555 and 1557. In an effort to remember their demise, residents of the small town dress-up as Protestant martyrs in black robes and bear crucifixes while carrying blazing torches through the streets.

Lewes Bonfire also evolved from a series of riots that marked the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, where a group of English Catholics, including the now infamous Guy Fawkes, were foiled in their plot to blow up the House of Lords.

From 1850 it became the more formalised processions seen today.

Elsewhere across the country, more colourful displays were put on last night – with more expected this evening.

In London, up to 50,000 people crowded into Battersea Park to watch an elaborate display that lit up the sky over the newly converted Battersea Power Station.

In Devon, crowds of people gathered in Ottery, St Mary, for the fiery Tar Barrels display 

One effigy on display during Lewes Bonfire Night celebrations was of Home Secretary Suella Braverman 

Artist Andrea Deans puts the finishing touches to Edenbridge Bonfire Society’s latest celebrity guy, Sadiq Khan, at Breezehurst Farm Industrial Park, Edenbridge, November 1

Fireworks explode behind the chimneys of Battersea Power Station 

In Ottery St Mary in Devon, dozens gathered for the Tar Barrels display last night, which sees locals lugging huge flaming barrels soaked in tar through the streets.

It is a tradition that has seen men, women and even children carry the flaming objects for centuries. It is said to have started after the foiling of the gunpowder plot of 1605.  

Meanwhile in Kent, another effigy of Sadiq Khan was burnt at Edenbridge’s celebration.

Every year since 1994, a 36ft tall celebrity effigy has been burnt as part of the annual November 5 celebrations. 

Boos rang out as the 11m high figure became the latest public figure to be demolished by a mixture of gunpower and flames, alongside a traditional Guy Fawkes.

The effigy shows Mr Khan holding a Ulez sign and £15 tickets for London New Year’s Eve fireworks event, with various traffic signs on his clothing.

Edenbridge Bonfire Society (EBS), which has organised celebrity effigies for 25 years, said it aims to bring a ‘light-hearted twist’ to the annual celebrations, which raise thousands of pounds for local charities and community groups.

People watching a fireworks display in Lewes, East Sussex during the traditional Bonfire Night celebrations

A huge display was put on last night behind Battersea Power Station

People dressed up parade through the streets of Lewes for Bonfire Night celebrations 

Locals in Edenbridge said they had been affected by the expansion and believe Sadiq was a ‘fair choice’ for this year’s effigy. 

One grandfather-of-two, 74, who asked the remain anonymous, said residents chose Sadiq to be the effigy because he is ‘crippling’ families in London.

He said: ‘It’s just a bit of fun, but I think Sadiq Khan was a brilliant choice because he’s a pillock.

‘I don’t know what he thinks he’s doing for London but it’s deteriorating. He doesn’t listen to the public.

‘He’s crippling the everyday family in London with ULEZ – the likes of teachers and carpenters and supermarket workers. It’s just a money-making scheme.’

Mum-of-two Veronica Wright, 54, who has lived in the town for 14 years, said: We were spoilt for choice with options this year, but I think Sadiq Khan was a good one.’

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