Lewes Bonfire Night effigies include a urinating Boris Johnson

News imageREUTERS/Toby Melville An effigy of Boris Johnson, urinating onto newspapers, is set to be burned during the Lewes bonfire celebrationsREUTERS/Toby Melville
An effigy of Boris Johnson urinating on newspapers was burned during the Lewes bonfire celebrations

An effigy of Boris Johnson urinating on newspapers has been torched at this year's annual Lewes Bonfire Night parade.

The event was organised by seven bonfire societies, many of which date to the 19th Century.

In previous years at least 60,000 people have attended.

Sussex Police had urged people to "stay local" this year but Lewes Borough Bonfire Society estimated about 30,000 would turn out.

Lewes Bonfire: Thousands attend parade
News imageREUTERS/Toby Melville Bonfire societies parade through the streetsREUTERS/Toby Melville
Lewis Bonfire Society estimated about 30,000 would attend this year's event
News imagePA Media/Gareth Fuller Annual bonfire night procession held by the Lewes Bonfire SocietiesPA Media/Gareth Fuller
The event is organised by seven bonfire societies
News imageGetty Images/Peter Summers Those parading hold burning torches as they file through the streetsGetty Images/Peter Summers
Burning torches have been held by those taking part in the parade

Commercial Square, Cliffe, Lewes Borough, South Street, Southover and Waterloo societies took part in this year's event.

Nevill Juvenile Bonfire Society is the only Lewes society not to hold its celebrations on 5 November - instead opting for 16 November this year.

News imagePA Media/Gareth Fuller Reveller dressed as a warrior walks through Lewes carrying a babyPA Media/Gareth Fuller
Costumes have included smugglers, war veterans and Vikings

Each society chooses an effigy to burn, typically a celebrity or politician.

Nigel Farage was the first to be officially unveiled this year, and he was later joined by Neptune the Roman God of the sea.

News imageREUTERS/Toby Melville Neptune, the Roman God of the sea, was one of the effigiesREUTERS/Toby Melville
Neptune, the Roman God of the sea, was one of the effigies

Other effigies included a depiction of a protest against the ending of free TV licences for the over 75s, and a Brexit rollercoaster featuring the prime minister and Jacob Rees-Mogg lounging in the carriages.

Participants also carried burning barrels and crosses. These hark back to the 17 Protestant martyrs who were burnt in Lewes during the reign of Mary I.

News imageGetty Images/Peter Summers A Brexit rollercoaster featuring the Prime Minister, and Jacob Rees-Mogg lounging on one of the carriages.Getty Images/Peter Summers
A Brexit rollercoaster was one of the effigies
News imageGetty Images/Peter Summers A depiction of a protest against the end to free TV licences for all over 75sGetty Images/Peter Summers
A depiction of a protest against the end to free TV licences for all over 75s
News imageGetty Images/Peter Summers Bonfire societies parade through the streets during traditional Bonfire Night celebrationsGetty Images/Peter Summers
In previous years at least 60,000 people have turned out for the celebrations

Pope effigies are also common and are meant to represent Pope Paul V who led the Catholic Church at the time the martyrs were burnt.

Costumes worn by revellers include smugglers, war veterans and Vikings.

Onlooker Alex Flowers said of the event on Twitter there was "nothing like it".

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Roads around the town were closed off hours before the start of the event and local train services were suspended.

News imageGetty Images/Peter Summers Bonfire societies parade through the streets during traditional Bonfire Night celebrationsGetty Images/Peter Summers
Sussex Police had urged people to "stay local" for this year's Bonfire Night celebrations
News imageGetty Images/BEN STANSALL Fires are being lit around LewesGetty Images/BEN STANSALL
Fires were lit around the town
News imageREUTERS/Toby Melville An effigy of Guy Fawkes is paraded through the streetsREUTERS/Toby Melville
An effigy of Guy Fawkes was paraded through the streets
News imageGetty Images/BEN STANSALL Revellers' torches are carried through the streets of Lewes in East SussexGetty Images/BEN STANSALL
Many of the societies involved in organising the event date to the 19th Century

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