TOWN councillors at Lyme Regis are worried about public safety and the amount of rubbish created by the resort's annual November bonfire.

They are keen to see the event continue but voiced their concerns on Wednesday night.

"The last one was a tremendous size," recreations chairman Ken Whetlor told his committee when his proposal for a risk assessment to be carried out was adopted for sanction by the full council.

Coun Whetlor reported that the fire service had to put out the lingering embers of the fire on the Monday after the Saturday evening lighting. The harbourmaster had expressed concerns, and he had met him and regatta and carnival secretary Paul Bohane for constructive discussion.

"We had a very good meeting," said the chairman. "One of the suggestions from the harbourmaster was that we should make the bonfire area a secure place within a compound at the Cobb. We do not need people exploiting the bonfire 24 hours a day. We do not need to make the bonfire such a size."

Commented Coun Owen Lovell: "I have been down there when there has been a lot of people close to the fire, pushing and shoving, which I perceived as an element of danger."

Mayor Ken Dibben maintained, however, that there had not seemed to be a lot of problems at the last event. The area was taped off, and stewards were on duty.

Coun Peter Williams said he was surprised that the fire was left still burning, and he hoped nails left after the blaze had been removed from the sand. He knew that a lot of rubbish had been picked up and left near the North Wall.