Cromer New Year fireworks light up the town once again

A stunning fireworks display shooting into the sky from Cromer Pier raised more money than ever yesterday as the event entered its second decade.

Up to 10,000 people lined the promenade of the seaside town, climbed up to the top of Lighthouse Hills or wandered to the cliff tops to secure a view of the 15-minute light show.

As the colourful beams of light shot out from the end of the Victorian pier, spectators let out involuntary 'oohs' and 'aahs'.

The New Year's Day spectacular, which began as a way to mark the Millennium, has grown every year and yesterday brought in a record �8,200 which will benefit a number of Cromer charities.

Fireworks committee chairman Jim Bond said: 'It went very well. The weather was almost perfect - apart from not being 20c. It seems to get bigger every year.'

He estimated half of Cromer's 8,000 residents had turned out along with many more people from across the county who head to the coast every New Year to catch the increasingly-popular display.

But the committee chairman admitted he had yet to see the show in all its glory because he was always standing behind the crowd with a collection bucket.

With many of the fireworks launching out from the side of the pier, Mr Bond was left to judge the event from the crowd's reaction. 'I only ever see one or two that rise above the buildings,' he said. 'People come up to me at the end and say 'that was fantastic' and I say 'if you say so'. One chap said he had been to displays all over the world and it's the best he's ever seen.

'It's quite an accolade.'

Money raised will be used in part to fund next year's display while the rest is split between local good causes which will be asked to apply to the town council for a share of the cash.