Enjoy Bonfire Night alternative – but please follow the rules

With the town’s annual fireworks display at Seaton Carew cancelled due to the pandemic, The Hartlepool Six - six beams of light that will illuminate the sky from 5-10pm on Thursday – have been arranged by Hartlepool Borough Council to try to provide some comfort to local people in difficult times.

As the town continues to battle increasing rates of infection, the lights are intended to represent solidarity amongst the darkness.

Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, Chair of the Council’s Regeneration Services Committee and Portfolio Holder for Culture, said: “These past few months have reminded us that we’re stronger together and what better way to represent that than by sending these beams of light into the sky which, weather permitting, will be visible to people across Hartlepool.

“We hope that the lights will make people think about what we’re missing and, crucially, why we’re missing it.”

People are being encouraged to look out for the lights, but the Council says they must only do so in a way that complies with the new national COVID-19 restrictions due to come into force on Thursday.

The new rules prevent people from gathering with others they do not live with and they also require people to largely stay at home, except in certain specific circumstances.

Gemma Ptak, Assistant Director (Preventative and Community Based Services), said: “We would encourage people to look out for the lights from their homes – either through a window, from their garden or from their doorstep, the latter being reminiscent of how some many of us turned out to  “Clap for Carers” during the previous lockdown period.

“It is vital that we all follow the rules and do whatever we can to help prevent the further spread of the virus.”

More information about the new national restrictions is available at http://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november