Residents suffer fireworks misery

A range of fireworks - including professional display creations - are exploding into the skies near the Dewhirst factory, off the Trunk Road. Local people say it is affecting their quality of life.

One Wilton Avenue resident, who asked not to be named because he fears reprisals, said: "It is quite bad some nights. Talk to any of the residents on Wilton Avenue or Broadway West and they are fed up with it. It started last week and there are five weeks to go until Bonfire Night.

"Some people have animals and it causes distress. There are also families around here with young children. It is more of a noise nuisance than anything else, but some of the bangers are really loud and they can really rattle the windows.

"It makes life very stressful because you are always wondering when the next one will come," he added.

Another local man said: "It is during the day as well as at night.

"The other night two huge bangers went off outside my window and there was a massive white flash," he said. "I thought the house at the end of the road was on fire."

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: "Fireworks are not toys and can be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands.

"We take a serious view when they are set off in public places, particularly when they cause upset to people living nearby.

"It is a seasonal problem but that will not stop us taking action whenever we can against the people responsible."

Both teenagers and adults are involved.

A spokesman for Cleveland Fire Brigade said individuals should use only fireworks with the British standards BS7114 mark.

He added that this situation served as a timely reminder of the dangers of fireworks.

He warned that the type apparently being set off at Dormanstown were especially dangerous because their capabilities were unknown.

"These fireworks are too dangerous to be used and could cause life-threatening injuries because they are so large.

"They are a risk to the people using them and to other people in the community.