Ludicrous !

A council has decided to dump Guy Fawkes from its annual Bonfire Night party - and replace him with a tiger.

Officials in Tower Hamlets, East London, say the story of the Gunpowder Plot is now too old so there will be no bonfire and no Guy.

Instead officials have spent £75,000 on a celebration in Victoria Park that will centre on a Bengali folk tale called the Emperor and the Tiger.

A mock Bengal Tiger will pace a giant catwalk surrounded by Bangla drummers and dancers. The area has a large Asian population.

John Midgley,spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said: "There's a time and a place for everything and November 5 is for Bonfire Night.

"It's time to tell bureaucrats that actions like these undermine our historic occasions and harm community relations."

According to the Sun Tory councillor Tim Archer said: "Bonfire Night is a celebration of our rich and proud history. It's being air-brushed out with an attempt to be politically correct."

MP George Galloway agreed, he added: "Guy Fawkes was one of the few men to enter Parliament with good intentions. It beggars belief that this council should organise a Bonfire Night without a bonfire or a Guy."

Labour-run Tower Hamlets council insisted they had not forgotten the Gunpowder Plot but had decided to try different themes.

A spokeswoman said: "This differentiates our celebrations from other boroughs and our events are proving to be extremely popular. Our sole aim is to stage an exciting event on the traditional Fireworks Night that will attract as many people as possible."