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Liverpool starts winter with a bang as thousands enjoy dockside fireworks

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By Tia Coyle

A firework extravaganza was a huge success for Liverpool and Wirral.

The River of Light firework display was held on the River Mersey on Saturday, November 5.

Over 70,000 people attended the event, lining both sides of the river on the docks.

Liverpool and Wirral councils joined forces to host this remarkable firework celebration which replaced the regular displays at Sefton and Newsham Park.

By moving the city’s main firework event to the waterfront, it reached a larger audience and had more of an impact on the local economy in both Liverpool and Wirral.

Joe Anderson, the directly elected city mayor, said: “Anyone who has seen fireworks displays on the waterfront – such as those last weekend for the 100th anniversary of the Cunard Building – will know just how incredible it looks.”

There was a variety of street entertainment and world-wide food stands which made the night eventful for everyone.

It began with fire performers at 4pm, followed by the talented Twister Aerobatics and then a group of world renowned drummers paraded from Liverpool Town Hall in a fusion of percussion and pyrotechnics.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Coun Roz Gladden, said: “I love this time of year with Halloween, bonfire night and Christmas.

“It gives us as a council the opportunity to plan exciting events for the people of Liverpool and it’s always an amazing turn out.

“Like many years before this one Bonfire night was a truly magical night.”

Danny Stapleton, 21, a student at Liverpool University said: “I’ve never seen so many people by the docks before, you could barely move through the crowd.

“I’m from Manchester and this firework display was by far the biggest I’ve seen.”

As a family orientated event parents came along with their children to celebrate and watch the entertainment.

There were children everywhere having fun with sparklers, and glowing toys which were being sold at the event.

Charlotte Wilkinson, 34, a mum of three children aged five, 11 and 13 said: “The kids loved it, my youngest loved the aerobatics and the drummers. He got so excited as this was his first firework display.

“I thought he might get scared when the fireworks started but he wasn’t. He really enjoyed it.”

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