The chairman of a bonfire society which sparked a race row by burning a caravan full of traveller effigies will face a formal police interview.

Richard Gravett met officers for "informal discussions" on Monday as part of an investigation into the events at Firle on October 25.

Today police revealed they intend to conduct formal interviews with members of the society, including Mr Gravett, during the next few days.

A file is expected to go to the Crown Prosecution Service.

The news emerged on the day Liberal Democrat district councillor and Firle Bonfire Society member Andrew Small quit his party over the controversy.

Mr Small, 46, was pictured wearing a clergyman's outfit and standing just yards from the burning caravan on the night of the society's Guy Fawkes Night celebrations.

He said he intended to carry on his work on Lewes District Council as an independent member for Ouse Valley and Ringmer Ward.

Organisers claim they were following a Bonfire Night tradition of burning effigies of things that have been troubling the local community when they set fire to the caravan, which bore the numberplate P1KEY.

A message on the vehicle, which was towed through the streets before being burnt, read: "Do as you likey Driveways Ltd - guaranteed to rip you off."

Earlier this year, Firle was at the centre of a dispute over travellers after they set up camp near the village.

Organisers say the bonfire tableau was not intended to be racist but to criticise the local council as the community felt it had been let down.

But the Commission for Racial Equality has called for those involved to be pursued and "punished".

Chairman Trevor Phillips said the burning was a clear example of incitement to racial hatred, a crime which carries a maximum sentence of seven years.

A Firle resident said: "It was a crazy thing to do. They made their bed and they are finding it an uncomfortable one to lie on at the moment."

Yesterday Mr Gravett issued an "unreserved" apology to those offended and announced the society was withdrawing from tonight's bonfire celebrations in Lewes on police advice.