A TEAM of North-East fireworks experts have shown themselves to be Britain's brightest sparks by winning the national championships.

The team from Alan Hillary Pyrotechnics, in Gateshead, weathered appalling weather conditions to win the British Firework Championships, in Plymouth, on Wednesday night.

The company is run by managing director Alan Hillary, from Shotley Bridge, in County Durham, who yesterday said he was thrilled with the victory.

"We had a very strong show, but what paid off last night was the experience of our team being able to work in such appalling conditions," he said.

Mastermind for the show was Mr Hillary's son, Adam, who designed and executed the ten-minute show.

He said: "The four operators working on the show did a fantastic job in torrential rain and gale force winds.

"Then, just before we were due to fire, the storm really got going with thunder and lightening totally surrounding the site.

"We have all weathered storms over the many years we have worked together, but this was something else."