OXFORD’S popular wicker man firework display project could go up in smoke.

Designs for this year’s creation are flooding in but organiser Dan Barton says he is facing financial difficulties in his own life that could threaten the wicker man’s survival.

Mr Barton usually makes up any shortfall of the project costs, but can no longer run that risk.

Last year more than 25,000 people flocked to South Park to see the 45ft structure burn, raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Mr Barton, 42, said: “I have been unemployed for the past four months, as my work restoring historic buildings ran dry, because of government cuts.

“I haven’t been very well so that’s knocked me out for six weeks. Life is unbelievably hard.

“And we are currently living in a static caravan while we renovate our house. So we are going ahead with the wicker man, but it’s causing me huge problems.”

The giant creation, which has been running for four years, is trailed around Oxford’s festivals and public events before being burned at the city’s biggest fireworks display.

It normally raises tens of thousands for local good causes – with last year’s proceeds going towards a new base for the Maggie’s cancer care centre at the Churchill Hospital, in Headington.

It is hoped money from this year’s event will go towards the centre again.

Mr Barton said: “It’s absolute madness to carry on but I don’t want to walk away from something we’ve worked so hard on.”

One reason to continue, he said, was seeing the response when M40 drivers got a sneak peak of the wicker man in a field close to Aston Rowant Nature Reserve last year.

“First we had one person coming over the hills and then a few more and soon there were more than 100 people at a time walking towards the wicker man.

“We had people in wheelchairs and everyone was smiling, it was just so uplifting.”

The wicker man itself is built by hundreds of volunteers over the summer months and a small Natural England grant has contributed towards building costs.

Now organisers want to raise £30,000 to employ two full-time co-ordinators to oversee the project.

Mr Barton said: “We are praying that someone comes forward and helps us out with the finances.”

To enter this year’s design competition or contact Mr Barton, see the Wicker Man Oxford website.

  • Oxford's wicker man is third – ahead of The Beatles and a cup of tea – in an online poll of ‘Greats of Great Britain’ for the Great Exhibition this year.

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