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Alex Salmond bonfire effigy 'not burned' Alex Salmond bonfire effigy 'not burned'
(35 minutes later)
Two effigies of Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond have been withdrawn from bonfire celebrations in an English town after a storm of protest on social media.Two effigies of Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond have been withdrawn from bonfire celebrations in an English town after a storm of protest on social media.
Thousands of people attended the bonfire celebrations in the East Sussex town of Lewes.Thousands of people attended the bonfire celebrations in the East Sussex town of Lewes.
Sussex Police said the effigies of Mr Salmond would not now be set alight.Sussex Police said the effigies of Mr Salmond would not now be set alight.
The Waterloo Bonfire Society, which produced one of the models, said it had "no wish or intention to offend".The Waterloo Bonfire Society, which produced one of the models, said it had "no wish or intention to offend".
The row began on Wednesday afternoon when East Sussex County Council tweeted a picture of Mr Salmond's effigy, complete with a "Yes" badge, a sign saying "45%" and the Loch Ness monster looking over his shoulder.The row began on Wednesday afternoon when East Sussex County Council tweeted a picture of Mr Salmond's effigy, complete with a "Yes" badge, a sign saying "45%" and the Loch Ness monster looking over his shoulder.
'No connection''No connection'
They faced an immediate backlash on Twitter with one user responding: "Can you imagine the uproar amongst Better Together campaigners had Yes supporters burned an effigy of David Cameron?"They faced an immediate backlash on Twitter with one user responding: "Can you imagine the uproar amongst Better Together campaigners had Yes supporters burned an effigy of David Cameron?"
Others posted the council's switchboard telephone number, and urged people to complain.Others posted the council's switchboard telephone number, and urged people to complain.
The council later clarified: "Please note that the Alex Salmond and Nessie models were created by Waterloo Bonfire Society #LewesBonfire and have NO connection to ESCC". The original tweet was removed.The council later clarified: "Please note that the Alex Salmond and Nessie models were created by Waterloo Bonfire Society #LewesBonfire and have NO connection to ESCC". The original tweet was removed.
Mr Salmond responded to the initial tweet by telling BBC Scotland he was "used to insults from Tories in East Sussex".Mr Salmond responded to the initial tweet by telling BBC Scotland he was "used to insults from Tories in East Sussex".
He questioned the judgement of those behind the effigy.He questioned the judgement of those behind the effigy.
But Mr Salmond, who will stand down as first minister and Scottish National Party leader next week, said he was more worried about Nessie, who was also to be burned.But Mr Salmond, who will stand down as first minister and Scottish National Party leader next week, said he was more worried about Nessie, who was also to be burned.
Just before 21:00 on Wednesday, Sussex Police tweeted: "For those enquiring we have been advised that there won't be any burning of the Alex Salmond effigies this evening in Lewes."Just before 21:00 on Wednesday, Sussex Police tweeted: "For those enquiring we have been advised that there won't be any burning of the Alex Salmond effigies this evening in Lewes."
It is understood three effigies - two Alex Salmonds and one Nessie - were confiscated and removed. They will be "tastefully" destroyed in private on Thursday.
A Sussex Police statement said: "We are aware of the portrayal of Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond as an effigy at the 2014 Lewes Bonfire event and acknowledge that concerns have been raised.A Sussex Police statement said: "We are aware of the portrayal of Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond as an effigy at the 2014 Lewes Bonfire event and acknowledge that concerns have been raised.
"Whilst we accept there is a long tradition of creating effigies of high-profile individuals in politics, sport, the media, etc, a complaint has nevertheless been received and will be investigated.""Whilst we accept there is a long tradition of creating effigies of high-profile individuals in politics, sport, the media, etc, a complaint has nevertheless been received and will be investigated."
In a statement, the Waterloo Bonfire Society said it had a "tradition of creating satirical tableaux in caricature based on topical local, national and international events".In a statement, the Waterloo Bonfire Society said it had a "tradition of creating satirical tableaux in caricature based on topical local, national and international events".
It said: "It is a tradition which has endured for many years and is intended to portray familiar stories and characters in a light hearted way. Clearly the Scottish Referendum has been a big story in the news recently and Alex Salmond is high a profile figure.It said: "It is a tradition which has endured for many years and is intended to portray familiar stories and characters in a light hearted way. Clearly the Scottish Referendum has been a big story in the news recently and Alex Salmond is high a profile figure.
"We are a traditional Sussex family bonfire society and have no political affiliations. We can assure that we have no wish or intention to offend and have never found ourselves in a position where we have done so in the past. To clarify we do not burn tableaux. They are incorporated into our firework display."We are a traditional Sussex family bonfire society and have no political affiliations. We can assure that we have no wish or intention to offend and have never found ourselves in a position where we have done so in the past. To clarify we do not burn tableaux. They are incorporated into our firework display.
"In the light of the responses received to our tableau idea this year we have made the decision to withdraw it from our celebrations.""In the light of the responses received to our tableau idea this year we have made the decision to withdraw it from our celebrations."
The Waterloo Bonfire Society is one of six which parade through the town every year. The societies all have their traditions, costumes, fire sites and fireworks. A second effigy of Mr Salmond was paraded through the Sussex town. by another bonfire society. The Waterloo Bonfire Society is one of six which parade through the town every year. The societies all have their traditions, costumes, fire sites and fireworks. A second effigy of Mr Salmond was paraded through the Sussex town. by another bonfire society - the Commercial Square Bonfire Society.
An effigy of David Cameron holding a "puppet Nick Clegg" was burned in Lewes in 2010. Other effigies in previous years have included Osama Bin Laden.An effigy of David Cameron holding a "puppet Nick Clegg" was burned in Lewes in 2010. Other effigies in previous years have included Osama Bin Laden.
The event is said to be one of the largest bonfire celebrations in the UK, with 30,000 people attending last year. The event is said to be one of the largest bonfire celebrations in the UK, with 45,000 people attending.
Elsewhere, an effigy of former European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso will be burned in the Kent town of Edenbridge.Elsewhere, an effigy of former European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso will be burned in the Kent town of Edenbridge.