CONCERNS have been raised that a towering bonfire built across the road from a petrol station in Carrickfergus appears to be leaning to one side.
The Eleventh Night pyre is under construction on a grass verge beside Prince Andrew Way at its junction with Love Lane.
A petrol station forecourt and retail units are located nearby on the opposite side of Prince Andrew Way.
Images posted online at the weekend appeared to show the huge stack of pallets leaning in the direction of Love Lane.
One Facebook page which charts numerous bonfires being built across the north posted images of the pyre, adding: "Looks like it's ready to fall lads."
But other internet users dismissed concerns and uploaded their own images from different angles that seem to show the pyre more upright.
One Facebook user jokingly branded it the "leaning tower of Carrick", but another said: "Don't give them Irish news ****s something else to jump all over."
Sinn Féin councillor James McKeown described it as a "highly dangerous situation".
"Obviously once that fire is lit it's going to fall. Any other type of structure would have health and safety coming in and dismantling it," he said.
"It's a failure of the statutory agencies to implement safety procedures. Somebody could get very badly hurt or even killed."
A Mid and East Antrim Borough Council spokeswoman said: "Although this bonfire is not on council land we are continuing to work closely with the local community to encourage a responsible approach to cultural celebrations.
"We also continue to work with our partner agencies, including the NIFRS (Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service), PSNI and Transport NI to ensure the safety of the public."
Last week DUP Carrickfergus councillor Billy Ashe acknowledged that the bonfire is "big", but said he has not been made aware of any concerns.
The Fire Service said it is continuing to work with the community and other agencies to "provide safety advice".
The PSNI said it is "not the lead agency on bonfires" but that police "work closely with our partner agencies and local communities to address concerns linked to bonfires".
