Southwark Council has confirmed that it will stage the usual 5 November fireworks display in Southwark Park – and it will remain free of charge –  but this year for the first time visitors will need to book a ticket in advance.

Cllr Ian Wingfield, cabinet member for business, employment and culture, said:

We know how popular this event has become in recent years, with the number of people attending increasing by 175% since 2012. While that is fantastic for the borough, our utmost priority is to ensure the fireworks remain a safe event for all. 33,000 attended last year’s event, with thousands more waiting to get in the park as the display began. That is why this year we have decided to ticket the event to help us manage crowds. Tickets will be free but will need to be secured online in advance.

We want as many people as possible to enjoy the show safely and I’m sure all attending this great community and family event will recognise the hard work being done to ensure this is the case.

Tickets for this year’s fireworks will be available at www.southwark.gov.uk/fireworks

Neighbouring Lambeth Council has this year cancelled its fireworks display after an unsuccessful experiment with ticketing last year.