A MOTHER has spoken out about the dangers of fireworks after her son and his friend had to have plastic surgery.

The two 14-year-olds were in hospital last night with severe burns after the fireworks went off in their hands.

Police were called to Eston High Street, near Middlesbrough, on Sunday at about 8pm, after reports from shop owners that youngsters were throwing fireworks near Eston Square.

David Richardson seriously injured his right hand, and his friend - who has not been named - injured his left hand.

Last night the pair were recovering from their injuries in the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

David's mother, Bernadette Jones, said: "The boys lit a firework and put it on the ground, but it didn't go off.

"They both bent down to reach it and it went off in their hands.

"David literally had a hole blown into his hand and all the ligaments were showing. It could have been a lot worse if it had hurt their faces and their eyes."

She added: "Children are vulnerable and don't see the danger. Fireworks should be banned from shops. People can go and see them at organised displays."

She said she did not know where her son and his friends had got the fireworks.

"They certainly only look 14, so they should not have been sold fireworks," she said.

Community Safety Inspector Dave Mead, of Langbaurgh police, said this latest incident showed yet again the danger of irresponsible behaviour with fireworks.

"These two lads have been very badly hurt after horseplay that went badly wrong," he said.

He appealed to parents to remind their children of the dangers of fireworks and asked businesses not to sell them to underage youngsters.

"Parents should check children's pockets and bedrooms, and businesses will be prosecuted and their licences revoked if they sell fireworks to underage children," he said.

"Messing around with fireworks can have a devastating result.

"And yet again police and health services are left to deal with the aftermath."