Villagers are hiring a smoke machine for a firework party - because soaring insurance premiums mean organisers cannot afford a real bonfire.

Revellers in Sherston, Wiltshire, plan to gather around a fake fire made of beanpoles, straw and orange paper.

They took the step after insurers raised the premium for covering the event from �237 last year to �2,470.

About 400 villagers are expected at the bonfire party on Saturday but organisers say they are worried worry many people may be put off because there is not a real bonfire.

Organisers will be using real fireworks

Chief organiser Eric Thacker said: "We are very disappointed - Sherston is a small village and this is one of the highlights of the year.

"We are all trained to use the fireworks, which we are insured for separately by the supplier, and we have a lot of experience of building bonfires.

"The event is held on land owned by a local farmer, and the bonfire is roped off so no-one can get near it.

"It is the centrepiece of the celebrations, it really makes the evening, so we just don't know how this year's display will go."

But fellow organiser Mike Tarrant believes the unusual bonfire may bring in even more visitors than usual.

"We didn't plan it this way, but there has been a lot of interest in the virtual bonfire - it is the novelty effect.

Compensation culture

"So it may be that we get more people from further away - we'll have to get some extra hot dogs and burgers in just in case."

Insurance companies say a compensation culture is to blame for the increase in costs - to cover the growing number of claims for relatively minor injuries.

Mr Thacker said: "The cost of insuring the fire has really jumped because there is only one company left that will do it.

"There have been so many litigation claims over the past few years that companies aren't prepared to take the risk."