About 15,000 people were expected to gather for the annual bonfire night celebrations in Gravesend, Kent, on 2 November to see a display set off from a barge on the river. However, council officials said on Friday that they had been advised to put back the event until the beluga whale, who was first sighted in the Thames more than three weeks ago, left the area. The Port of London had advised them that the display should not take place on or over the river and that moving it to another site around the town of Gravesend, which is on the river, would still be likely to disturb the whale. It has been advised that disturbing the whale would be in breach of the Wildlife & Countryside Act and asked residents to “think twice about holding private firework displays” near the river in Gravesend.

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