Fireworks cause major disruption in Leicester city centre

Fireworks caused major disruption in Leicester City Centre after being set off towards shops and student accommodation on Bonfire Night.

The footage captured below was taken by a student living in Castle Court.

There have been numerous reports of injuries around the UK with a seventeen-year-old boy in Halifax losing his life after reckless usage of fireworks.

According to NHS England, in 2021 there were 116 firework-related hospital admissions across all NHS Trusts, with an estimated 10 of these being children under the age of 14.

 Firefighting volunteer Elizabeth, who did not want to be fully identified, said: “Fireworks are a massive hazard, especially in tight residential areas and cause hundreds if not thousands of fires a year.

"Bonfire night is one of our busiest times of the year. I’ve seen bottle rockets tip over and cause massive damage to both property and people.”

The Children’s Burns Trust, a charity aiming to raise awareness of the dangers of Bonfire Night on children, shared that an estimated 550 children under 16 are taken to A&E in the four weeks surrounding bonfire night alone.

Injuries from fireworks are usually caused to the eyes, head or hands, meaning that children injured may end up with scars that will last them a lifetime and many may end up needing hospital treatment or even surgery.

The UK Government has also issued a public safety announcement about firework safety, advising that people buy their fireworks from licensed vendors and to follow the instructions provided on the fireworks. The Office of Product Safety and Standards, also known as the OPSS, advises people to check their fireworks for the F1, F2 and F3 code, which are safe to be used by the public.

As New Year’s Eve approaches, the OPSS advised that before letting off fireworks, read all the safety instructions on the box. This contains important things like how far away people need to stand from the firework and how far away to keep the firework away from buildings and structures. If you do not understand the instructions and warnings, it is advised to not use the firework. If any firework debris remains, leave soaking in cold water overnight to avoid the risk of further fires and damage to surrounding areas.