Bonfires clean-up

CLEARING up after the summer bonfires has cost Magherafelt and Cookstown councils more than £3,600.

Ratepayers in Cookstown spent 1,500 to clean up after Eleventh Night bonfires while Magherafelt spent 2,160. In comparison neighbouring council Dungannon and South Tyrone spent 100 while Belfast spent a whopping 53,704.

The total bill for cleaning up after bonfires this summer was 158,333 up from last year when councils across Northern Ireland spent 116, 978. In 2008 the bill for bonfire clean-up came to 98,452.

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While it is a popular cultural activity for many, some feel the impact on the environment is detrimental. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency is concerned at the burning pyres of wood and tyres believing it to be a major contributor to environmental pollution.