Chippenham's firework display is being hailed as its best in 42 years.

Thousands of people filled the entire bank of Monkton Park for a sparkling view of the sky on an exceptionally mild November night on Saturday.

Wide-eyed children hoisted on their parents’ shoulders were silhouetted against the blazing bonfire, mesmerised by the golden fireballs soaring upwards before bursting into colour beneath the moon.

Shrieks of delight could be heard over the fierce bangs in a 20-minute long firework display set to stirring film themed music, the menacing Star Wars’ Imperial March adding to the drama.

Six-year-old spectator Theo Liddell, who goes to Monkton Park School, said: “It’s good, I don’t like the noise though, but I like the colours.”

Mum Lorna, 38, of Yewstock Crescent, said: “Theo was really excited about coming down, it’s a family thing. I took the night off work to make a night of it.

“It was great this year because he recognised the music from films.”

Neil Bishop, 59, of Rowden Road, was also there with his family, including 21-year-old daughter Zoe.

He said: “It was excellent, very colourful. It lasted a long time. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.”

Organised by the Rotary Club of Chippenham, with help from the Rotary Club of Marlborough and District, the event took £8,500 on the gates and costs between £6,000 and £7,000 to put on.

Any Inkpen, chairman of the Rotary Club Bonfire Committee, said: “It was tremendous, I would say probably the best we’ve ever had.

“It was a lot better than last year’s when there was a howling gale all day, probably twice as many people this year. It also helped that we weren’t in direct competition with Sutton Benger’s and Christian Malford’s this time.

“It is a shame that several hundred people congregate around the park and think just because it’s a public park they should get to see it for free. It’s only £3.50 in advance and the money is going back into the local community.

“We support mainly local causes, like Dorothy House, Forever Friends, the Rise Trust, and also international when there are major disasters and there’s no shortage of them at the moment.”

The event has been running for 42 years and has only ever had to be cancelled once when the park was under water.