Bonfire being erected beside Derry flyover

Palets and other rubbish being gathered in the Meenan Sqaure area on Wednesday.

A bonfire has been erected at the bottom of the Lecky Road flyover in Derry.

The 15 foot structure. Largely constructed of pallets, was put together overnight in the Bogside area.

Youths have been gathering wood for weeks and storing it in the Meenan Square area, with the August 15 bonfire expected to be lit tonight.

A sign on the bonfire reads: “Yous shouldn’t have taken our wood”, apparently in reference to an operation last Friday morning when a team was tasked to the area to remove pallets from Meenan Square.

Some residents expressed concerns at the scene on Friday about a heavy police presence accompanying the removal team.

A PSNI spokesperson meanwhile advised this morning: “Due to a bonfire being constructed on the Lecky Road, Police are advising that motorists may wish to consider an alternative route than using the Lecky Road or Brandywell Road to enter the Bogside at this time.”