TRAIN services will be suspended and roads closed as bonfire celebrations return to Lewes later this year.

Lewes Bonfire, an annual event held on November 5, is expected to cause major travel disruptions with a series of travel restrictions in place to ensure public safety.

No trains will call at Lewes, Glynde, Southease, Cooksbridge or Falmer after 3pm on Bonfire Night, with services not stopping at the stations until the first timetabled trains on the following morning.

Visitors to the event are also advised not to bring vehicles into the town, with road closures set to be in place for the event.

Diversions will be in place for traffic to travel outside of Lewes, with a full list of road closures and parking restrictions to be announced closer to the time of the event.

Organisers of the event, one of the UK’s largest and most famous festivities on Guy Fawkes Night, said: “Given that Lewes normally becomes significantly overcrowded on Bonfire Night, safety issues are of the utmost concern and we will be communicating key decisions when made in order to inform the wider public and reinforce the message that this remains an event for local people.

“There are growing concerns that more people than usual will come to Lewes because this year’s event falls on a Saturday.

“Combined with significant amount of fireworks, this presents a unique challenge to the multi-agency group tasked with ensuring public safety.”

The event, organised by several bonfire societies, sees thousands of people flock to Lewes every year - with various effigies paraded though the streets and later set ablaze.