Group raises more than £1,300 to keep Leigh Park firework display alive

Friends of Stockheath Common Fireworks was assembled in a bid to switch to a community-led structure of the annual Leigh Park display.

It had previously been funded by Havant Borough Council.

As the event returned for another year on Sunday night, the group began collecting money towards next year’s fixture.

Of its £6,500 target to hold a 2018 display, the group raised £1,369.71 through donations and collections buckets – spending £8.65.

Friends of Stockheath Common Fireworks chairman, Craig Cockram, 50, said: ‘Thank you so much to everyone who donated. I’d also like to thank the Heron pub in Havant, Stagecoach, Angel Radio, Supersound Mobile Disco and Havant Borough Council for their top support.

‘As a group we are all absolutely over the moon with how the start of our collection has gone.

‘We have got some good ideas in the works for events to raise more cash, but this really is a brilliant start.’