LAST-DITCH attempts are being made to save Broadstairs' New Year fireworks after a mix up over paperwork.

The display over Viking Bay has been arranged by The Pavilion every year since 2001. This year it is in doubt after a risk assessment submitted by organisers failed to satisfy health and safety bureaucrats.

On December 19 Mac Towe from the Thorley Taverns-owned venue received a letter from Thanet council's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) saying the event needed greater safety measures, including more stewards and first aiders.

Mr Towe said: "There were a number of things that needed to be changed but by the time we received the refusal everybody was on holiday. Our risk assessment was the same as last year, we were not really aware that anything had changed since then. We didn't expect a problem."

This week, councillors and town groups were scrambling to save the event by putting a revised assessment before the SAG – which includes the police, fire, ambulance and council staff.

An e-mail mistakenly sent to the Isle of Thanet Gazette revealed the political panic behind the scenes.

In a message to his Labour colleagues, sent from his iPad, Councillor Alan Poole said: "It may be a good idea to get our 'message' out before the Gazette picks up on it and we get the blame."

A response from recently elected community services portfolio holder for TDC Iris Johnston read: "We really don't need to be associated with bad news stories."

Councillor Michelle Fenner replied: "I agree with Iris. The press are so 'stupid', intentionally or not, that they would make it sound as though it is our mistake."

Broadstairs business owner and Big Weekend organiser Fiona Crawford alerted Thanet South MP Laura Sandys.

Miss Crawford said: "The problem is that this event has been going on for years and it has always been a small event. Now it seems the rules have changed so organisers, and people in the town, are being punished without being told."

Mrs Sandys said: "I have been encouraging everybody to pull together as much as they can to address SAG's concerns, which are real concerns.

"There may be a possibility of getting SAG to look at the revised proposals being put forward on Friday."

A disappointed Mrs Johnston told the Gazette: "We are now hoping to meet with organiser, so we have the health and safety dealt with and still have the display."

Should the fireworks display still go ahead, it will take place on Broadstairs seafront at midnight on New Year's Eve (tomorrow).