HARLOW’S annual bonfire and firework night celebrations will be on Sunday, November 2, instead of the more traditional November 5.

The date change has been made to reduce inconvenience to residents caused by closing the road near the showground on a week day.

In recent years the town’s free firework display has been held on November 5, whichever day of the week it fell on.

But with many of the new homes in the Fifth Avenue area now occupied and with hundreds of residents from other parts of Harlow using the thoroughfare to commute to and from work, the decision and to hold the event on Sunday is designed to minimise disruption.

About 15,000 spectators are expected to attend the display at the Town Park showground, which necessitates closing part of Fifth Avenue from 6pm for safety reasons.

Fewer cars use the road on a Sunday compared with weekdays and with the shops closing at 4pm that day, most shoppers will have already left the area. Harlow Council community and environment committee chairman Eddie Johnson said: “By holding the event at the weekend, we hope more people than ever before will be able to enjoy the display.

“As ever, we have a great show lined up this year and we anticipate that the decision to switch it to the weekend will be welcomed by most people.”

The stretch of road from the traffic lights near Gladwin Way to the Sainsbury roundabout will be closed from 6pm to 10.30pm.

The roundabout itself will not be closed so that motorists will still be able to bypass the area.

The fun starts at 6.30pm with music from the Ten 17 roadshow, followed by the lighting of the bonfire by Harlow Council chairman Tony Hall at 7.15pm.

The firework display starts at 7.45pm.

As usual there will be a funfair on site and food and drink for sale.