BRADFORD Council says it will be investigating a bonfire where crowd numbers took organisers by surprise.

Although the Mercure Bradford Hotel in Bingley did not need an official licence for the bonfire and fireworks display on Saturday that attracted "thousands", it only had a Temporary Event Notice which covered alcohol and music for up to 499 people.

The hotel was due to hold its own investigation and debriefing meeting to look at what went wrong but a spokesman for Mercure said today there was no update yet or comment.

However, the Telegraph & Argus has been told senior staff from the hotel have been contacting and offering ticket refunds to families complaining of dangerous overcrowding, being hit by ash and a misfired firework.

One of those who was offered £10 back was Allerton Road mum Alice Naylor, 32. She said her three-year-old son Leo was hit in the face by flying hot ash which also burned a hole in his coat.

“He was hysterical. It was so scary. When the ash hit him it was still on fire. There was no where to get away from it. Sardines in a tin doesn’t come anywhere close to what the crowd of thousands was like. We could see no first aiders, no stewards and no one in high vis vests to help us. The hotel’s general manager called me to ask what I wanted from his company and offered me £10. I didn’t accept it,” she said.

The T&A also heard from mum-of-four Joanne Holroyd, 28 from Haworth Road, who said her eight-year-old son Callum was taken to Airedale Hospital with a suspected head injury after she claimed a wayward firework shot into the crowd, struck his aunt’s hand then hit his head.

It was the seventh year the Mercure Bradford Hotel has organised a bonfire event but the crowds were swelled by the fact that nearby Myrtle Park’s bonfire was not taking place. 

General manager Sandeep Kaushik admitted to the T&A on Sunday “We simply did not anticipate the influx.”

A Bradford Council Licensing Service spokesperson said: “The event had a Temporary Event Notice which permits up to 499 people and covers alcohol and music entertainment.

“This is a notice served by the event organiser to tell us the event is going ahead.

“The fireworks and bonfire do not need a licence. But we will need to investigate the issues surrounding this event.”