'˜Cars shouldn't be buried on bonfires'

The silver Ford Focus is believed to have been left at the Cairngorm Drive bonfire in Craigyhill on Saturday.

Elected representatives who had recently welcomed the vehicle’s removal from the site were dismayed to learn that it may instead have simply been hidden from view by other bonfire debris.

“Cars shouldn’t be buried on bonfires,” said East antrim DUP MLA Gordon Lyons.

“If it turns out that the car is still there then I want to see it moved.

“Burying a car under a bonfire would be highly irresponsible due to the risk of it exploding and causing serious harm.

“It doesn’t do anything for the local area and if it is there I would urge people to move it very soon.”

Larne Lough DUP representative Alderman Gregg McKeen echoed Mr Lyons’ concerns.

“The last thing we want is a car with a petrol tank in the middle of a bonfire,” stated Ald McKeen.

“Even if there is little or no petrol in the tank that is worse as gas will build up and it could explode when heated.

“What would happen if it exploded and hit a youngster?”

The PSNI said they had not received any reports of a car on a bonfire in Larne.

A Mid and East Antrim Borough Council spokesperson said: “Council was informed about this vehicle in the last few days and has been working with the PSNI to identify ownership to facilitate its removal.

“Council and other statutory bodies are again engaging with bonfire builders, as it has in previous years, to help manage issues of this nature better.”