Scores of people marched through the southern English town of Uckfield on Saturday night carrying torches for the annual Bonfire Parade.

The parade opens Sussex and Kent's bonfire season in which some 30 local societies mark the burning of martyrs in Lewes in the 16th Century and Guy Fawkes Night.

The bonfire season runs to the end of November and raises money for local causes.

Whereas Guy Fawkes's night in most parts of the UK is traditionally commemorated on 5 November, towns in Sussex and Kent hold parades and festivals starting as early as September; Uckfield opens the season every year on the first weekend in September. The Grand Torchlight Procession is one of the highlights of the weekend. The origins of the Uckfield Bonfire Parade go back to 1827 when shop traders organised a Carnival.

Bonfire Societies, peculiar to the south-east of England, are experiencing a huge resurgence in interest. The celebrations mark both the burning of martyrs in Lewes's High Street from 1555 to 1557 and Guy Fawkes Night. Bonfire Society tradition has remained strong for more than a century and now many towns and villages in the area known as The Weald have their own societies who use the events to collect money for local charities.

The bonfire season, which runs to the end of November, involve some 30 societies travelling to support and compete with each other to raise money for local causes.