FIREWORKS should not be fired again from a secret location in York - and roads should be shut on safety grounds if big crowds are expected for future events in the city centre.

Those are two of the key conclusions of a review, published six months after the city staged its controversial fireworks display last Bonfire Night.

The document also calls for a better system to assess the likely size of crowds for future events which attract national publicity, so that planning can be adjusted accordingly.

But City of York Council leisure boss Charlie Croft has also revealed the major economic benefits to the city of the whole Guy Fawkes 400 festival last autumn, which commemorated the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot in Fawkes' birthplace.

He said the total spend in York on food, drink, evening entertainment and travel from visitors attracted by the celebrations - which also included the "Renaissance: Illuminating York" project to light up key buildings such as the Minster - had been calculated at £2 million.

The Press received one of its biggest postbags after the skyline fireworks display, from scores of readers furious about the way it was handled.

People complained they had been unable to see the fireworks from key locations such as the Minster and Clifford's Tower, and claimed serious safety problems had been created when thousands rushed through the streets to try to find a vantage point. One man was rescued after falling in the River Ouse, while another said his foot was run over by a taxi in the mele in Museum Street.

Mr Croft said it had never been planned or advertised as a full display but a skyline display - a full display having been ruled out because of several factors, including significant logistical difficulties and mounting costs.

The wide-ranging review of the Guy Fawkes events was requested by the Labour shadow executive, which will discuss the findings at a meeting next Tuesday. Listing "learning points" from the event, the document says the launch of the fireworks was "highly-successful and safe", but the secrecy meant that people had not known where it was best to stand.

"Fireworks should not in future be fired from a secret location," it said. "Greater clarity is needed about what people can expect to see at any event.

"A system is needed to assess likely crowds in the light of national PR in the run-up to a future event, so plans can be adjusted accordingly. Road closures are needed at key points in the city centre if big crowds are to be handled safely."

Mr Croft asked the shadow executive to say whether it felt the city should in future seek to mount similar events, which might attract large numbers of people into the centre.

HELEN TURNER asked shoppers in York if they thought there should be publicly funded fireworks displays in York on Bonfire Night.

Susan Nunn, of York, said: "No. I've been to bonfire night's in the past, and they've all been excellent, especially the one at The Eye of York. Why not have charity buckets? There are thousands of people there that would give 50p and £1 for a good cause."

Sarah Willis, of Huntington, said: "Yes I do. I went to the fireworks last year and it was very disappointing."

Victoria Herbert, of Dringhouses, said: "No, if they had some sort of charity there, people would have the choice of whether they want to give money. I am aware York council has lots of excess money. This should be spent to keep teenagers off the streets."

Updated: 09:59 Wednesday, May 17, 2006