A firework once went through a skylight (window in the loft) nearly setting fire to my mum's house and my 6 year old niece was there at the time. It was fired by some Australian/New Zealand (same accent) idiots who were getting drunk in a garden opposite and enjoying themselves by launching them sideways toward houses instead of vertical. Luckily I was there because neither my poor mum or my niece could get up in the loft to put out the burning lagging. When I went up to the loft to put out the small fires, they were still firing off the fireworks and I actually thought I was gonna get hit by one...so after I made sure the loft was not on fire I went down and dialled 999 to get them to stop the idiots. The stupid female plod at the other end said I was wasting police time so I told her to get off her fat arse and do something. She said they were "overstretched" and mine wasn't an emergency. Ok so if a child and elderly person were trapped in a burning house...would that be an emergency? I went back up to repair the window and cut my finger as well...while they were still firing fireworks around the roof. I stayed with my mum that night cos she was scared and plod came round at 2am...a bit late. On a plus note; I thought they were going to give me a hard time for dialing an emergency (even though it was...) and insulting their colleague ...though instead the two officers were sympathetic and said they were trying to get the fireworks banned and went in the garden to see the damage.

Now this is how I see it: I was in the army and I've used explosives, hand grenades, sabot and HEAT rounds etc etc. Not very fun. So first of all I don't see the attraction of things which go boom. Secondly, if people like explosions...SEND THEM TO EFFING IRAQ! You'll have real fun there! lol Joking aside...what will it take to ban fireworks for sale to the GENERAL PUBLIC (not institutions i.e. companies which organise events)? What will it take? A terrorist bomb made out of fireworks and let off on a bus? There's all this crap about terrorism and yet you can legally buy explosives?...if that's the case...just sell blimming mortars and be done with it. Yes I hate the things...