Eastbourne put up serious opposition to the UK's biggest bonfire party held in Lewes with its own festivities last night.

Thousands flocked to the town's organised sites for sparklers and hot dogs while many more set up their own private displays in back gardens.

A queue of traffic built up along Lottbridge Drove early in the evening as families waited for parking spaces at the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway park (EMSR).

Many more opted to walk along the main roads to reach the popular destination.

Shauna White, six, went along with older brother James and mum Ellie, of Old Town, Eastbourne.

She said: "I love fireworks and they don't frighten me. My favourites are rockets because they are loud. James lit my sparkler for me."

The Wadey family has run the EMSR event for the past nine years and takes safety very seriously.

Mike Wadey, a former fireman, said about 2,000 people had turned out for the display, a slight increase on last year.

He said: "I don't know exactly how many people were here but we were at capacity. It is the biggest and the best in Eastbourne - if I say so myself.

"Me and my son attended a pyrotechnic course recently. This year it was all choreographed, fused and fired by my son Luke, who is 23."

About £4,000 was collected for the Mustard Seed Charity to go towards its Love in a Box campaign to help children in the Balkans and the Ukraine.

He estimated around three-quarters of a tonne of fireworks were used in the display, which took most of the year to plan.

The fireworks were triggered from a small island in the middle of the lake, which reflected the colours to the watching crowd.

Those who preferring more unusual surroundings watched the display at the Redoubt Fortress, along the seafront, over two nights.

Organisers at Langney Sports Club thought their fireworks, disco, mini fair and Sovereign Radio roadshow made it the best event ever.

Club vice-chairman Mick Grimer said: "It was just brilliant. We had more than 2,300 people, it was excellent. We didn't have a bonfire this year because of health and safety reasons. There was dancing and prizes as part of the roadshow."

Mr Grimer said the event took about six months to organise, with the fireworks ordered in June.

More than 50 stewards were on hand to see there were no accidents.