DESPITE all the problems that have hit rural communities this year, the villagers of Sticklepath are hard at work, planning to light up the skies on November 5 with the biggest and best Fireshow to date.

A real community effort from start to finish, Sticklepath Fireshow is one of the largest village arts events in the South West and while those with muscles build the set, creative geniuses and local children work with puppet makers at the village hall and giant, brilliantly coloured figures evolve from withies, paper, paint and glue.

A great deal of skill and experience goes into the making of these carnival sized figures, designed not only to bring the story to life but also to withstand the worst of November weather if necessary.

Tradition dictates that the fireshow plot remains secret among the chosen few, but everyone is involved in collecting wood and building materials to construct the stage, which goes up in flames on the night.

Materials donated by local builders and scrounged from scrapyards are stockpiled on the Foundry Field, behind the National Trust's Finch Foundry and construction of the massive stage begins next week.

The gates open at 6pm on November 5 and a dramatic torchlight procession follows at 7.30pm.

Then the show begins and an exciting story unfolds on the floodlit stage, traditionally ending with the downfall of Guy Fawkes.

A dazzling display of fireworks follows, before the entire stage is torched to provide a huge bonfire.

This magical display of music and drama, bonfire and fireworks promises once again to be a spectacular show.