Guy Fawkes was immortalised on the silver screen in V for Vendetta in which Hugo Weaving played the anarchist anti-hero determined to blow up the British parliament in Westminster.

This tale is loosely based on fact but nevertheless the tradition of Guy Fawkes is still celebrated all across the UK by having bonfires on Nov 5th. In these days of economic crisis these community initiatives should be encouraged but we also live the days of uber cautious “Health and Safety” people, you know the sort – the type that want 5 different disclaimers signed and reams of red tape before you can even think about opening a match box.

Well there is a way around the “Wet Blanket Brigade”. Digital to the rescue, Ilfracombe Rugby Club in the UK have forgone all the pain and suffering of form filling by having a digital bonfire. The event – dubbed ‘non fire night’ – will see dozens of families hold sparklers and gather around a massive screen showing film footage of a bonfire. Recorded images of a roaring real fire will be projected onto a 16ft by 12ft screen mounted on a scaffolding stand – at a cost of £300. Sounds of crackling wood will also be broadcast on loudspeakers and £2,500 fireworks will be fired into the air. Around 2,000 people are expected to turn up to wave sparklers and munch hot dogs in front of the UK’s only virtual bonfire.

Sounds good to us, as long as the beer and hot dogs are real!