Crowds Gather for Annual Flaming Tar Barrel Event

Ottery St Mary was expecting 20,000 visitors, effectively doubling the size of the town, but due to bad weather causing car parks to fill up quickly, the Devon town had to be closed to visitors.

The spectacular evening event, which is believed to be linked to the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, began with children's barrels, followed by women's, men's and intermediate events.

A total of 27 barrels were carried throughout the evening.

Tattoo artists and hairdressers were among those preparing for one of their busiest times of the year, while many shops had boarded up their windows ahead of the event.

Seven-year-old Jessica – the youngest participant this year – told Les White, who at 69 was the oldest, that she was "very excited and a little nervous".

Andrew Wade, president of the Tar Barrel Committee, said that at the annual event, selected residents of the town take turns running through the streets carrying burning wooden barrels as part of "an ancient custom".

He said there are "lots of ideas about how it first started" but looking back through history, "it was mostly associated with 1605 when bonfires and effigies were burned and barrels were very much a part of it".

He added: "The barrels were rolled, which is why people were called barrel rollers."

The 1605 Gunpowder Plot was an unsuccessful attempt by a group of English Catholics – including Guy Fawkes – to assassinate King James VI of Scotland and King James I of England.
Darrin Abbott, who was born and raised in Ottery St Mary, travelled from Hawaii to take part in the Bonfire Night celebrations. She said, "This is our Christmas... I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Hattie, who started tar barrel rolling "late" at the age of 12, said: "You have to do it as a child so you qualify to do it as an adult." She explained that her brother, aunt, cousins, and both grandfathers had also participated in the past.

Maddy Small, who was participating for the 11th consecutive year, said it's a family tradition.

She said, "It's a normal town... everyone has normal jobs, but tonight we all come together."