Upchurch family fireworks display is back after a year’s break.

Every year thousands of people flock to Westmoor Farm, off the A2 at Rainham, for the event, but organisers Upchurch Scout Group cancelled last year’s show to protect the group from closure.

Chairman Mike Powell said: "We fund each event from the previous year’s event, but we also use that money for the running costs of the Scout group so if there’s a risk to the group you have to minimise that risk.

"In 2008, we lost money. Rain doesn’t stop us from firing up, but it does stop people from turning up and from a safety point of view, only high winds prevent us from firing.

"The fireworks are our biggest asset but once they are fused and start being loaded into the firing tubes, its pretty much past the point of no return. By the time we got to gate-opening time the usual queues were not there. It wasn’t really until the countdown to the firing of the first rocket had started that we realised with just a few hundred people in the arena, it certainly wasn’t going to be a good year financially.

"Ironically, the rain stopped just before we started firing but it was too late for most people."

Lessons have been learnt and measures put in place so the event, which is now in its 15th year, can go ahead.

Mr Powell said: "We now have up until noon on the day to decide whether or not to go ahead with the display. People can’t buy their tickets in advance so if we suddenly have high winds and the display has to be cancelled we will operate a system whereby people can have either a 50 per cent refund or a ticket for the following year’s event.

"We have also kept our costs down this year. We’ve invested a lot of money in equipment over the last three or four years, which means we’ve now got all the equipment we need. We’ve also been negotiating with people, asking for donations and sponsorship.

"We’re really looking forward to it and we are keeping our fingers crossed that the weather will be good."

The event takes place on Saturday, November 6. Gates open at 5.30pm. There’s free parking and tickets cost £7 for adults, £5 for children under-16 and £20 for a family ticket for two adults and two children. For more details, visit www.upchurchfireworks.co.uk or email upchurchfireworks@talktalk.net