LAST ditch attempts are being made to resurrect Malmesbury’s popular annual fireworks display after the group which organised it for more than 30 years was forced to disband.

A regular fixture on the Malmesbury calendar, the town’s communal Bonfire Night lures hundreds of spectators to St Aldhelm’s Mead on the closest Saturday to November 5.

It is organised by the Malmesbury Round Table which, as a result of the display, is able to donate between £1,000 and £1,500 to local groups and charities.

But the organisation now ceases to exist after membership – who have to be under the age of 45 – slumped to just one.

Former members who in the past have managed to put on the show are unable to do so now for insurance reasons.

Former Round Table member Keith Maslin, who has been heavily involved in organising the event for the last 20 years, said: “While many stalwarts were still prepared to stage the event sadly in today’s litigious society without the Public Liability Insurance provided by Round Table HQ, they are unable to do so.”

Estate agent Mr Maslin went on: “It’s very disappointing that Malmesbury will not have a display this year.

“It’s always very popular and had been going for well over 30 years.”

Mr Maslin, who is 51, said the Round Table age limit had for some years been 41 so they upped it to 45, but still cannot meet the minimum of four members.

He said: “We have tried numerous times to recruit new members. One year we even tried organising a free clay pigeon shoot with barbecue afterwards – but no one responded.

“After several years of warning that this day was coming, sadly it has now arrived.”

He said the group is now in talks with some interested parties to save the display which had been set for Saturday, November 7.

There had been one offer to stage the display on Hallowe’en Night, Saturday, October 31, but he felt this was some way off Guy Fawkes Night – “not even in the same month” – and also coincided with the Rugby World Cup Final.