By Saul Cooke-Black
CROWDS watched in amazement at The Crown Inn's Bonfire Night celebrations as a 20ft phoenix rose out of the ashes.
When families saw the phoenix alight on Friday night, they thought that was the end of the display - the last thing they expected was for the 'animal' to start moving.
Simon Baker, landlord of the Frampton Mansell pub and organiser, refused to reveal the secret of the moving phoenix.
"It was a real bird," he joked.
"It took some doing but I can't reveal the secret.
"Every year we try to do something different and more spectacular.
"It is going to be a challenge to better it next year."
The craze for Bonfire Night extravaganzas at The Crown Inn started in around 2008 when a piano was dropped off at the pub.
Quick-thinking landlord Mr Baker did not want to waste the instrument so created a bar scene for the display.
Ever since the displays have been getting more spectacular, with last year's seeing a 20ft witch set alight.
The pub's celebrations are quickly gaining popularity, with around 500 revellers turning up for this year's impressive spectacle.
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