Money raised for good causes from Ely’s annual fireworks display is set to rocket past the £250,000 mark at this year’s event.

All eyes will be on the skies for the 40th annual display taking place on November 8 in Cherry Hill Park, and organisers are promising “the biggest display ever” to run alongside the usual mix of side stalls, a barbecue and family attractions.

The charity event normally raises about £10,000 for good causes features one of the UK’s leading display teams, Battle Fireworks.

This year, the traditional guy competition has been extended to all youth groups under the age of 15. Every local school, pre-school or under 15s youth group that delivers a guy to the event on the day, is guaranteed to receive £100 donation with the best entry scooping a whopping £250 first prize.

David Baldock, on behalf of Ely XT, the event organisers, said:

“The Ely display has a reputation for being one of the best in the region and we will be spending even more this year to keep it that way.

“We hope to see the people out in force to maximise the money we can reinvest in the local community and would remind everyone that only the proceeds of novelties sold inside the venue will go towards the community fund and that opportunist traders setting up stalls around the event are not selling official merchandise.”

Family tickets, for two adults and two children, aged four to 15, will only be available in advance. Adult tickets will be £3 in advance or £5 on the gate. Child prices are £1.50 in advance and £2 in advance.

Gates to Cherry Hill Park will be open from 5.30pm with the bonfire being set alight at 6.15 pm and fireworks let off from 6.45pm. Personal fireworks and sparklers are not allowed at the event.

Tickets are on sale from Specsavers, Oliver Cromwell House, Soham Books, Littleport Bargain Centre and Twin Motor Company, in Pound Lane, Sutton.

INFO: www.elyxt.co.uk