A bonfire society has paid tribute to Pope John Paul II but is continuing with plans to torch a historical pontiff's effigy.

The move has angered opponents, who called it offensive and insensitive and said it was "appalling bigotry".

This November's Bonfire Night will mark the 400th anniversary of the ill-fated attempt by the pope-backed Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605.

The Cliffe Bonfire Society, one of the oldest in Lewes, has maintained an anti-pope theme since it was founded in the mid-19th century.

Ric Newth, the society's chairman, confirmed this year's event will include the burning of a papal effigy.

"We are still going to do it," he said.

But he insisted there would be no reference to Pope John Paul II, whose death, he said, had been met with sadness.

He said: "Some of our vice presidents are Catholics and members held the Pope in high regard."

Effigies burned by the society on Bonfire Night are of pope Paul V, Camillo Borghese, who was pontiff at the time of the Gunpowder Plot.

A big part of the event, he said, was protecting freedom of speech.

Mr Newth described opponents as narrow-minded.

He said: "There is nothing personal involved and the two things are totally different."

But the tradition's most vociferous opponent said the death of Pope John Paul II made this year's event doubly insensitive.

Catholic grandfather Joe O'Keefe, of Newick, Lewes, has been trying to ban anti-pope stunts for several years.

Mr O'Keefe, 53, said there was nothing amusing about them and they were acts of "appalling bigotry", which set bad examples for children.

A new law of incitement to cause religious hatred has been shelved by the Government but Mr O'Keefe hopes bonfire organisers would be taken to court.

"And I am quite sure we would win," he said.

Mr O'Keefe said: "It is about time these people came into the 21st Century and realised this bigotry is out of date.

"It is ludicrous, and especially when the Pope has died.

"It is insensitive, an obscenity and it upsets Catholics across Great Britain and Ireland."

The Cliffe and Lewes Borough bonfire societies were formed in 1853.

As well as celebrating the death of Guy Fawkes, the event marks the burning of 17 Protestant martyrs in Lewes High Street between 1555 and 1557 and William of Orange's restoration of a Protestant monarchy in 1688.

Alongside burning effigies of popes, each year a tableaux is created depicting the current political climate.

"Victims" have included George W Bush and Osama Bin Laden.

Last year, Firle Bonfire Society burned an effigy of a gypsy family inside a caravan with the number plate reading P1KEY.

Police considered prosecuting members of the society for incitement to racial hatred but the case was later dropped.