FIVE summer fireworks displays will light up Weymouth in August - including two low noise displays - after an additional £7,000 was allocated by the town council.

Fireworks displays will be held on each Monday in August, it was decided in a services committee meeting, as Weymouth Town Council agreed to increase the number of displays from the usual three to five.

The displays, which were originally expected to cost £15,000, will now cost £22,000, and will be funded by the council, which allocated the additional £7,000 from the underspend in the council's overall budget for 2020/21. The budget, which covers costs of the firework display company, the vessel for launching the fireworks, the safety boat, Weymouth Harbour support, and marketing and promotions of the displays, also includes a fireworks display on November 5.

As with previous displays, the fireworks, which will be organised by two national companies, will be ignited from a vessel in Weymouth Bay.

Two of the displays will be lower noise displays where the fireworks will not make the same 'bang' sound that they are associated with, for the benefit of those who are sensitive to loud noises.

Cllr Alex Fuhrmann, who represents the Westham East ward, is pleased that the council has taken the decision to make two of the five displays low noise, which is something he has been campaigning for.

He said: "This is something I have been trying to sort since day one. I want to make the fireworks more inclusive for people with autism, for those with dogs and to offer up something different. I am hoping for music to be played over the top.

"I am very happy that the council have approved this - I was only hoping for one low noise display so two is a bonus."

At the end of the discussion on the displays, Cllr Graham Lambert, raised concerns about council money being spent on fireworks, which he claimed would 'pollute' Weymouth Bay.

He said: "I accept that this has gone through a couple of committees but I state my opposition on spending precept money on polluting Weymouth Bay and the atmosphere."

Information on fireworks displays timings and when the low noise displays will be published in the coming weeks, along with information for businesses looking for sponsorship opportunities.