Numbers were down at this year's South Parks fireworks display, organisers have revealed.

Organisers said the total number of people paying to watch the fireworks had fallen from about 25,000 last year to 20,000.

Last year, the display left the park at the bottom of Headington Hill a badly rutted 'mud bath' and residents and Friends of South Park complained about the damage.

READ MORE: Oxford Round Table celebrates 'phenomenal' fireworks night 

But on Saturday measures had been put in place to try to ensure the park was not churned up in the same way. This included banning the annual bonfire.

And there were strict controls on vehicle access to ensure only essential event and emergency vehicles were permitted to enter.

(Image: Oxford Round Table) Following last year's damage, Oxford Round Table held a series of meeting with city council officers, as the authority manages the park.

A city council spokesman said it appeared the measures taken had been a success.

He added: "Initial inspections have shown that the plan that was put in place to avoid damage to the park has worked well.

"We will be making further examinations later this week once the event infrastructure has been fully removed."

Oxford Round Table organisers said everyone at South Park had enjoyed a "phenomenal night".

Event director Joseph Garbett said: "Even without the bonfire, the community came out in their tens of thousands and witnessed the biggest display this city has ever seen."

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(Image: Oxford Round Table) But organisers did acknowledge that the total number of fireworks fans was slightly down this year - from 25,000 to about 20,000.

Mr Garbett added: "Attendance numbers were down on last year, as always when we host the event at the end of half-term holiday.

"We just don't know yet whether the bonfire will be back or not.

"We'll base our event applications in future years on feedback from those who come to this event."

Mr Garbett added that the 20,000 figure could be adjusted later as they had not yet accounted for 'on the gate' sales.

"We encourage feedback as it helps us to improve the event, and we will be emailing ticket holders to ask for feedback in the coming weeks," he said. 

There was also a fun fair and food stalls as part of the entertainment.

(Image: Oxford Round Table) Friends of South Park member Dr Daniel Emlyn-Jones, who complained when the park was damaged last year, said it was clear the organisers had tried to protect the surface of the park.

Some dry weather in the run-up to the event also helped, according to the organisers.

The event has raised more than £1m for charity since it started about 56 years ago.

Last year's display raised about £50,000 for local charities.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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