Guy Fawkes Night may be months away, but the council is already under fire for changing plans.

Evesham Town Council has announced this year’s fireworks night will take place a week early, so to avoid clashing with other displays in the area.

Within hours of the announcement on Facebook, the comment section was filled with disgruntled residents.

Former town councillor Emma Nishigaki commented: “So now the children have to make a choice between trick or treating or going to bonfire display? Think Town council scored an own goal here.

“The local wildlife is slow clapping this one.”

Evesham resident Pamela Harridine wrote: “So you’ve moved it from a Saturday….so it doesn’t clash with other events…to a Saturday? Very disappointing.”

Another local, Jo Pearce, commented: “I think people would like to see the display on actual Bonfire Night, it just makes sense.

“And as others have said, not having an organised display on the 5th encourages more people to let off fireworks in their gardens and in other dangerous places. Bonkers”

The event will still be held at Corporation Meadow and ticket prices will match last year's.

However, it will be held on October 29 instead.

Mayor of Evesham, councillor Mark Goodge, explained that the decision was made to help boost attendance and because the normal fireworks supplier was unavailable on the 5th.

He said: “This isn't a rescheduled Guy Fawkes Night event, it's a Halloween event!

“We do appreciate that not everybody will like the idea of a Halloween fireworks night, and will prefer instead to go to a more traditional event on the 5th.

“But, on the other hand, this does give us the opportunity to try something new, and different.

“Halloween celebrations are becoming increasingly popular and we know this will strike a chord with many people.

“Ultimately, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, and our attendance figures will tell us whether we made the right choice.”

He added that firework displays are usually held on a range of dates anyway and so this decision will not increase the total number of events.

Furthermore, the date can now not be changed.

“We've already made the bookings with the fireworks supplier and with the district council for the hire of Corporation Meadow, and started taking bookings from traders who want to attend,” he said.

“These things need to be in place months before the event, and we didn't make the public announcement of the new date until they were already confirmed and in place.”