IT was back to basics – and bangs, crackles and whistles – for one of the region’s most popular firework displays last night.

A dispute over licence fees meant that charitable group Project Seven dropped the musical backdrop of recent years and concentrated solely on the crashing noise of the fireworks at the Big Night Out, in Long Melford.

Organiser Andrew Hagger said: “The rain held off and there was a reasonable turnout considering it had been raining most of the day.

“There were about 6,000 here although that was well down on last year, but that was understandable.

“We let off �11,000 of fireworks and it lasted for 18 minutes. For the finale we had a patriotic firework that went bang three times.

“The first bang was red, then it went white and finally blue and each bang was slightly lower than the previous one.

“There was a good response from the crowd, they all clapped and whistled – we got a standing ovation.”

Mr Hagger added: “We went for a traditional show this year and concentrated on the bangs and crackles and whistles, but we didn’t have the music because we would have had to pay �500 for the licence.”

The Performing Rights Society did eventually back down over the fees but it was too late for this year’s show. Mr Hagger has been involved in the display for the past 31 years and it has been running for 42 years.

Project Seven also organise barbecues and parties as well as supplying volunteers to act as car parking marshals at other events with proceeds going to various local charities.

n A 20-year-old woman was knocked down by a car as she left the display at about 9pm last night.

Paramedics reported that she was conscious and breathing and it was believed she suffered only minor injuries. She was taken to West Suffolk Hospital by ambulance.