ALCESTER Rugby Club's bonfire and firework display has made a profit for the first time in five years, despite an attack by vandals.

The day before the event one of two new advertising boards was torn off its post damaging the club sign underneath and the repairs and replacement could cost up to £160.

But the attack failed to dampen the spirits of club secretary David Billingsley who is delighted with the success of the event, which has had a bad run ever since arsonists set the bonfire alight five years ago.

On that occasion the display was postponed for a week, but so few people attended on the new date that the club lost money, and it has been plagued by bad weather ever since.

But on Friday the biggest problem was that there were so many people trying to get into the Birmingham Road site that the fireworks had to be held up by about 35 minutes.

Mr Billingsley said: "We were overwhelmed. We were expecting 800 to 1,000 people but there must have been 500 to 700 more than that. We had about 350 cars parked here and they overflowed into Kings Court and the Moat House.

"The display was fantastic, and everyone has said how much they enjoyed it and that it was worth the wait."

Mr Billingsley said the exact amount of profit was not yet known, but that it would go towards club funds.

Since the arson attack the bonfire has not been built in advance, but left until the day of the display.

"It makes it a long day, but it was worth it," he said.

Fire and police services have reported a quiet bonfire night in the area, with no firework related incidents. This is the first year of a new curfew on fireworks, which must not be set off after 11pm (midnight on Bonfire night).

Firecrews were called to a kitchen fire at a house in Ten Acres, Alcester, at around 5.15pm on Friday night