THE weather did its best to spoil the fun as South Cumbrians got ready to celebrate the last Bonfire Night of the millennium 30 years ago.

Rain and strong winds in November 1999 almost led to the cancellation of one of the biggest fireworks shows to have been staged in Barrow.

It had been organised by Barrow Round Table at the Barrow soccer ground in Holker Street.

The Mail, on Friday, November 5, noted: "Each year the event raises substantial funds which are donated to local charities.

"And this year organisers are promising the display will be more spectacular than ever."

The sponsors were Texas-based gas producers Burlington Resources - marking a start to production from the offshore Dalton and Millom gas fields.

General manager Earl Reynolds said: "We are delighted with having completed the project in record time and are pleased to sponsor the fireworks so that everyone can share or benefit in kind from our celebrations."

The Mail, on Saturday, November 6, noted: "Barrow's biggest ever fireworks display was almost cancelled at the last minute due to high winds last night but a team of pyrotechnics experts saved the day.

"The display attracted more than 3,000 people, with almost £6,000 of fireworks ready to be lit."

Andy Tebay, of Barrow Round Table, said: "At one point we felt we would have to call it off because the wind appeared to be rising and we were worried about safety.

"We hired Essex Pyrotechnics for the last couple of years and their expertise allowed the display to go ahead safely.

"I'm certain that if we had handled the display ourselves, we wouldn't have been able to continue."

Organisers said £3,000 of the cash raised from the event would go to Furness General Hospital.

Several other planned displays in Furness had to be postponed due to the weather conditions.

Fire crews were called to a bonfire on the Bankhead estate at Haverigg, near Millom, which started to get out of control.

Millom fire brigade station officer Eric Robinson said: "It was just smoke and rubbish flying about towards the houses and that's why we got called out.

"All the smoke and fumes were getting into people's houses so they called us to put the fire out."

It proved to b a quiet night for the firefighters as there were not as many bonfires in Millom and Haverigg as there used to be.