Oxfordshire County Council is asking residents to familiarise themselves with safety advice with Bonfire Night on the horizon.

The fire and rescue service recommend attending a professionally organised public event as the safest way of celebrating Bonfire Night.

The service also fervently discourages the use of Chinese sky lanterns due to the fire risk that they pose.

The service's top safety tips for Bonfire Night include: only purchasing CE marked fireworks from licensed shops, lighting fireworks at arm's length with a taper and standing well back, never returning to a firework that has not gone off, never giving sparklers to a child under the age of five and keeping bonfires at least 18 metres away from houses, trees and hedges with a barrier around them.

Further advice states to only burn dry wood and never use paraffin or petrol on a bonfire, keep buckets of water nearby, consider where fireworks and debris might fall and ensuring safety distances on fireworks packaging are observed.

The fire and rescue service also urges great care with costumes, clothing and decorations, particularly around candles and fires and recommends purchasing flame resistant costumes, not using flammable materials to make homemade costumes and ensuring children are always kept away from naked flames.

More safety information and advice can be found on the county council’s website.