A 'River of Fire' is how Pembrokeshire entrepreneur Chris Allen describes the world-class fireworks display planned for the Milford Haven Waterway tomorrow (Saturday). 

One of the most spectacular shows ever seen in Wales will be fired from up to six locations over three miles of the River Cleddau. Chris, the managing director of West Coast Fireworks of Narberth, said: "The fireworks should be visible over a considerable distance, linking up the various communities on the waterway." 

The display, using pontoons and barges, will form a dazzling finale to celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the engineering genius whose railway created the town of Neyland. The performance will resemble the Sydney Harbour extravaganza and the Millennium display on the River Thames.

Chris said: "We are going to be firing simultaneously from points on the river at Hazelbeach, Llanstadwell, Neyland Yacht Club, the Jolly Sailor, Burton, and the Martello Tower, Pembroke. There will also be large aerial shells which will culminate in the centre of the waterway in large aerial shellbursts.  

"It will look fantastic, looking around the estuary, seeing the same fireworks going off at the same time. It's going to be very spectacular. It's something very different and has never been done in Wales before. There'll be great viewing points all the way from Burton to Milford. The best place to view will probably be the quay at Neyland, but other great viewpoints will include Pembroke Dock."

The display is one of a series of events promoted under the auspices of the Experience Pembrokeshire's Waterway Project and supported by the community led local development partnership PLANED (Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development) through the Leader+ programme and a wide range of sponsors.

Brunel's South Wales Railway arrived at Neyland 150 years ago, making the town a lynchpin in communications between Wales and Ireland. The great Victorian entrepreneur retained close links with the local community.  

Earlier in the day, local people will be encouraged to join community artists to create designs for a sculptural bench depicting the life and times of Brunel to be sited permanently on Brunel Quay in Neyland. There will also be an exhibition on Brunel's work at Neyland Library until September 23.

Also tomorrow, the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society is arranging a parade of vintage craft at sea, including a 24-foot Gaff Cutter built in 1904 and a Royal Naval captain's fast dinghy from 1945. There'll be a river patrol boat and the Sea Cadets of TS Warrior.

An afternoon of entertainment on Brunel Quay will feature events for all the family, with stalls, face painting and soccer skills training. There will also be a brass band, jazz band and other entertainers.

All ages will be invited to try and join in watersports organised by Neyland Yacht Club. Also there will be the 'Smells to Smiles' interactive exhibition about agriculture and the countryside. In the evening there'll be entertainment before the fireworks, a tug boat water display and a pig roast at the Yacht Club.   BRIDGE FIREWORKS REFUSED

As reported in last week's issue, it had been hoped to hold the firework display off the Cleddau Bridge. Pembrokeshire County Council received the proposal at the beginning of August from the Brunel Festival Committee.

The organisers of the festival were advised that the authority had a number of reservations, not least the short time-scale, but, in an effort to be helpful and supportive, officers agreed to give urgent consideration to the proposal.

They were also made aware that if any significant difficulties arose with the proposals, the authority would have no option but to say no.

As a result, there was significant dialogue between the council and the organisers, and it had been hoped that a number of issues were being clarified. However, concerns have emerged in more detail, in particular, unease about the impact on traffic and the residents living beneath the bridge. The council has a duty to keep highways open.

"As a result, we have had to turn down the proposals," said a spokesperson. It is important to note that, throughout, the council had not been in a position to give an unqualified yes to the proposals, because of the need to finalise assessment on all the issues.

"We have, however, been trying to work closely with the organisers to see if the event could be accommodated," added the spokesperson.

The council has offered its car park next to the Cleddau Bridge as an alternative site for setting off the fireworks, but it is understood that the offer has been declined by the organisers.