Paisley’s fireworks extravaganza has been scrapped for the second year in a row.

After the major event was called off last year due to the coronavirus crisis, Buddies had been hoping to see the skies over the abbey lit up again with Catherine wheels and rockets.

But council chiefs have said it is “unfeasible” to stage the colourful display next month despite making plans for a Hallowe’en event from October 28 to November 1.

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They cited crowd size and ongoing coronavirus safety measures as the reasons behind the cancellation.

The move has sparked fears more people will put on their own fireworks displays with no communal event to go to in the town centre.

Paisley Northwest councillor Kenny MacLaren has urged people to think twice before setting off explosives in their back gardens.

He said: “It’s disappointing the fireworks event being called off but people’s safety has to be the priority.

“There is, however, concern the lack of an official large scale fireworks event might lead to people setting up their own local displays.

“I would hope people see some common sense about this and not organise anything.

“Apart from the obvious dangers of using fireworks or setting bonfires there is the impact the noise of fireworks has on pets and even those with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Please think about your neighbours and pets and, even though there is no main structured event, don’t be tempted into holding your own display. It’s safer for all if we can ignore the fireworks this year.”

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Last November, fireworks were posted through letterboxes or fired at houses in Paisley in five separate attacks around bonfire night.

The event cancellation comes after the council announced the annual Christmas light switch-on events – which usually take place in Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew – would not take place this year either.

However, event organisers have said there will still be a “spectacular” array of lights in each town and some other festive activities will be arranged.

Renfrewshire Council appears to have followed a trend in pulling the plug on the 2021 fireworks display.

Neighbouring Inverclyde called off its fireworks event at Greenock’s Battery Park due to a lack of available stewarding staff, with many under contract to support the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.

And North Lanarkshire Council scrapped its bonfire festivities at Strathclyde Country Park back in June.

Paisley’s Hallowe’en Festival meanwhile will be going ahead, albeit in a slightly different manner.

The event has been called “Out of this World” and will see the town centre transformed into an immersive experience with a series of displays around the town hall, abbey and River Cart, as opposed to the usual parade.

A council spokesperson said: “We won’t be hosting a fireworks display in Paisley town centre this year. Given the nature of this event, the usual crowd size and the impact of ongoing coronavirus safety measures, it was unfeasible to plan and stage this for 2021.

“We are currently working with local businesses to organise festive activities in Paisley, Renfrew and Johnstone across weekends and attract footfall to these town centres.

“We won’t have the three council-organised Christmas lights switch-on events, but we’ve invested in spectacular Christmas lights which will be on display in towns and villages across Renfrewshire throughout the festive period.

“More details on the planned activities will follow soon.”