Bonfire Sacrifice Confirmed

Stoke's official Catholic sacrifice for the city's bonfire night celebration on 5 November has been announced as local chimney sweep Timmy Webster.

Timmy, aged 12, has said he is delighted to be chosen. "Priest Gary has told me that this is the greatest honour for anyone," he explained. "It's what Jesus would want me to do, basically, is what he told me."

Sacrificing a Catholic is Stoke's thank you to the gods who prevented the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the House of Lords.

Timmy was due to give evidence at a forthcoming trial against local priests accused of molesting children. The Judge for that hearing has said he will await the outcome of this sacrifice before deciding whether Timmy can be called as a witness. The Catholic Church of Stoke has described Timmy's sacrifice as coincidental and unrelated to the trial.