A FIREWORKS spectacular that drew thousands of Newport revellers each year is unlikely to return to the city this autumn without council support, the Argus has learned.

Newport Round Table put on the Guy Fawkes display at major venues including Tredegar House, Newport Stadium and the old speedway track at Queensway Meadows for five decades.

But the Bonfire Night extravaganza ended in 2009 as the organisers suffered from dwindling numbers.

Newport Round Table appealed for fresh blood to rejuvenate their club in April but have so far been able to organise the major display, which requires the support of partnership organisations including Newport council.

The Newport branch of the Round Table does not anticipate it will be in a position to put on the fireworks this November without more resources and the backing of the council and representatives like the Mayor Cllr Cliff Suller.

Round Table spokesman Nick Mutch, 48,said: “We need a place. We just can’t go around checking at the moment.

“Unless we do magic we should be looking at next year.

“The issue is time and our lack of membership.

“We’re looking for help. We are still so short of resources, it is even hard to look for help.

“We know what we want but we do not have the ability to do it.”

Both Newport council and the Mayor have vowed to try to help the Round Table put on the display despite the “challenging financial climate” in the UK.

A Newport council spokeswoman said: “Newport City Council would welcome the return of an annual fireworks display as we know how much they were enjoyed by many residents in the past and they were extremely well organised by the Round Table.

“We would have to look carefully at the level of support the council could provide in this extremely challenging financial climate. However, we would be willing to discuss the idea with the organisation if they contact us.”

Cllr Suller added: “I would be extremely happy to join a meeting with officers to give them any help and any guidance we could give to them on their way.”