It's taken a month and a whole lot of wood but 'biggest bonfire area has ever seen' is ready

Seaforth residents have come together to build a “bigger than ever” bonfire in the heart of their community. Tonight, the field next to Verdi Street in Seaforth will be lit with the “biggest” bonfire the area has ever seen and there will be burgers, hot dogs, fireworks and music for people to enjoy.

Last year, the same community held a bonfire which one resident, Chris, said “saved” his life. This year, to celebrate, he plans to put on the “biggest party” for Guy Fawkes Night to give back to his community.

Chris said: “Last year I was suicidal and I thought instead of doing something stupid, because I have a lad, I collected all bonfire wood and it got big. This year, I thought I’m going to celebrate and it has got better and I’m going to have a big boss party and then we will have a whip around and have another party.

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“What I do now is I set my good, bad and goals, the bad can get on their bike and all the good become brilliant and the goals are happening. My next goal is to set businesses up for the community. I get a buzz out of helping people. This is so important to me, I’m not letting anyone stop me because the last bonfire was good, but it saved my life so this year it’s going to be even better.

Members of the community have come together to help Chris put on the huge event for Guy Fawkes Night tonight (November 5.) One resident, John Paul, 41, who has lived in Seaforth for 40 years, told the ECHO how generations of dads and sons have helped build the epic bonfire, which is bigger than the rows of terraced houses.

He said: “We’re all from the local community and it happens every year. But Chris has gone out on his own every single night, or sometimes with the odd helper, for the past month collecting wood, he has collected every single bit of wood himself and then all the community have come together to build it.

“We have spoken to the council, police and fire brigade and done it all the right way. We have local businesses helping out. It’s unbelievable. A lot of people have come together, tonight it will be chocca down here.

“There will be loads of fireworks, we have a whip round in the community and they have all put together to buy fireworks. It’s just brilliant honestly, it’s great to see all the young kids helping out too. I’ve watched these kids grow up and now to see them help out it's unbelievable, it’s all lads and dads, there are about four generations of people working together to do this.”

John told the ECHO how all the community are getting behind tonight’s event. He said: “My auntie and uncle run the church [next to the bonfire]. They are opening up the church later to everyone and there will be hot dogs and drinks for the children. It really is bringing everyone together, it’s all positive. There’s a great community spirit here in Seaforth, it gets a bad rap but I have lived here for 40 years and it’s a brilliant community.

“It has been on every year but it has never been this big, this is by far the biggest it has ever been on this field without a shadow of a doubt, it’s bigger than the houses I’d say. It has been a massive group effort but Chris personally has gone out in his own van, he has done about £800 in petrol collecting every single night. He is so passionate about the community, this brings people together. It’s unbelievable and it really is all for the community. And Chris is unbelievable he has done all this. There is a great community spirit.”

Chris added: “I looked at my Google maps on my satnav the other day and I have been to many places for wood, I’ve spent about £800 in fuel. I have been guarding it at night too so nobody sets it on fire before tonight. I have a surprise for us as well. This is the biggest one yet.”

Seaforth Community Church will also be opening tonight to serve food and drinks to people who come to enjoy the bonfire extravaganza. Chris, 60, who runs the Seaforth Community Church, said: “We are a community based church. Tonight we will be putting on hot dogs and food, whatever people bring. We’re putting tables out and we will be open. We have 300 hot dogs for tonight. It’s all for the community, it is a great community, I have lived here all my life.”

The church supports members of the community who are in need throughout the year, Chris added: “We do hampers at Christmas, we usually take about 50 around to people who are struggling, we do a food bank, men’s breakfast, community pantry, for everyone who is struggling in the community. The lads who are putting this bonfire together are doing it all for the community.”