Lewes Bonfire Night effigies include a urinating Boris Johnson Published duration 5 November 2019 Related Topics Bonfire night

image copyright REUTERS/Toby Melville image caption An effigy of Boris Johnson urinating on newspapers was burned during the Lewes bonfire celebrations

An effigy of Boris Johnson urinating on newspapers has been torched at this year's annual Lewes Bonfire Night parade.

The event was organised by seven bonfire societies, many of which date to the 19th Century.

In previous years at least 60,000 people have attended.

Sussex Police had urged people to "stay local" this year but Lewes Borough Bonfire Society estimated about 30,000 would turn out.

media caption Lewes Bonfire: Thousands attend parade

image copyright REUTERS/Toby Melville image caption Lewis Bonfire Society estimated about 30,000 would attend this year's event

image copyright PA Media/Gareth Fuller image caption The event is organised by seven bonfire societies

image copyright Getty Images/Peter Summers image caption Burning torches have been held by those taking part in the parade

Commercial Square, Cliffe, Lewes Borough, South Street, Southover and Waterloo societies took part in this year's event.

Nevill Juvenile Bonfire Society is the only Lewes society not to hold its celebrations on 5 November - instead opting for 16 November this year.

image copyright PA Media/Gareth Fuller image caption Costumes have included smugglers, war veterans and Vikings

Each society chooses an effigy to burn, typically a celebrity or politician.

Nigel Farage was the first to be officially unveiled this year, and he was later joined by Neptune the Roman God of the sea.

image copyright REUTERS/Toby Melville image caption Neptune, the Roman God of the sea, was one of the effigies

Other effigies included a depiction of a protest against the ending of free TV licences for the over 75s, and a Brexit rollercoaster featuring the prime minister and Jacob Rees-Mogg lounging in the carriages.

Participants also carried burning barrels and crosses. These hark back to the 17 Protestant martyrs who were burnt in Lewes during the reign of Mary I.

image copyright Getty Images/Peter Summers image caption A Brexit rollercoaster was one of the effigies

image copyright Getty Images/Peter Summers image caption A depiction of a protest against the end to free TV licences for all over 75s

image copyright Getty Images/Peter Summers image caption In previous years at least 60,000 people have turned out for the celebrations

Pope effigies are also common and are meant to represent Pope Paul V who led the Catholic Church at the time the martyrs were burnt.

Costumes worn by revellers include smugglers, war veterans and Vikings.

Onlooker Alex Flowers said of the event on Twitter there was "nothing like it".

Roads around the town were closed off hours before the start of the event and local train services were suspended.

image copyright Getty Images/Peter Summers image caption Sussex Police had urged people to "stay local" for this year's Bonfire Night celebrations

image copyright Getty Images/BEN STANSALL image caption Fires were lit around the town

image copyright REUTERS/Toby Melville image caption An effigy of Guy Fawkes was paraded through the streets

image copyright Getty Images/BEN STANSALL image caption Many of the societies involved in organising the event date to the 19th Century