THIS may be the last year a popular fireworks night at a Worcester school goes ahead.

An annual display has taken place at Red Hill CE Primary School, London Road, for the past 14 years and regularly attracts hundreds of visitors.

The event – which this year takes place on Friday – raises funds for school projects, but the rising cost of insurance and the loss of two key volunteers through retirement has put its future in doubt.

Organiser Matthew Buttler said the school’s friends’ association was looking into how the display could continue and he urged people to support the event.

He said: “Pete Pedrick and Warwick Taylor, who have put on the fireworks display for the last 14 years, have decided to call it a day. They were very active within the friends when they had kids at the school and they started off putting on a fairly low-key show.

"They caught the bug and quickly progressed to putting on a number of professional shows each year in conjunction with Jubilee Fireworks, including our school and community show.

“Their kids have obviously long since left the school and as their contacts of old within the school have dwindled it feels right to them to make this their swansong.

“Despite the fact that their kids left many years ago, they have always provided this service to the school and the wider community free of charge.

“All the planning and prep is a huge undertaking involving hours and hours of work. We will be really sorry to see them move on.

“The other issue is the cost of insurance. We need to have in place public liability and employers’ insurance. It’s never cheap, but this year it’s got extortionate.

"We were looking at having to pay £1,300, but one of the parents managed to negotiate it to just £700. We usually pay about £300-£350.

“Although it’s a school event, we’ve made it more of a community event and it raises about £1,500 for school funds and attracts about 1,200 people, which is a great amount given the size.”

Gates open from 6pm and the display, which is set to music, starts at 7pm. Tickets cost £4 for adults and £2.50 for children in advance – available from the school office – or £5 and £3.50 on the night.

There will also be a barbeque, bar, toffee apples and light sticks for sale.

Proceeds from this year’s event will go towards new sport and outdoor equipment for the school.