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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Four hurt as Blandford fireworks go off accidentally | Four hurt as Blandford fireworks go off accidentally |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Four people were injured when fireworks at an organised public display were accidentally set off into a crowd. | Four people were injured when fireworks at an organised public display were accidentally set off into a crowd. |
| Police were called to the incident at the Yuletide Festival in Market Square, Blandford Forum, Dorset, on Wednesday. | Police were called to the incident at the Yuletide Festival in Market Square, Blandford Forum, Dorset, on Wednesday. |
| A box of fireworks discharged "incorrectly", according to police. Most hit a nearby wall but up to six went directly into the crowd. | A box of fireworks discharged "incorrectly", according to police. Most hit a nearby wall but up to six went directly into the crowd. |
| The casualties suffered minor burns and eye injuries and were treated at the scene. No-one was seriously hurt. | The casualties suffered minor burns and eye injuries and were treated at the scene. No-one was seriously hurt. |
| Amateur mobile phone footage posted on Facebook by spectator Suzanne Patrick showed fireworks exploding behind a row of shops, before several shoot over the buildings and down towards the crowd. | Amateur mobile phone footage posted on Facebook by spectator Suzanne Patrick showed fireworks exploding behind a row of shops, before several shoot over the buildings and down towards the crowd. |
| As the first of them explodes in mid-air, a woman is heard saying: "That's dangerous actually, I'm a bit scared." | |
| 'Shaken up' | 'Shaken up' |
| When two more come over, people begin to flee in panic. | When two more come over, people begin to flee in panic. |
| Ms Patrick wrote on her Facebook page that her children had been among those hit by debris from the fireworks, as had the son and daughter of a friend. | Ms Patrick wrote on her Facebook page that her children had been among those hit by debris from the fireworks, as had the son and daughter of a friend. |
| She wrote: "Was so scared am still shaken up from it." | She wrote: "Was so scared am still shaken up from it." |
| The Blandford Forum People community website said: "Yuletide festival nearly ended in disaster when the fireworks display went wrong, launching rockets into the crowd of onlookers." | The Blandford Forum People community website said: "Yuletide festival nearly ended in disaster when the fireworks display went wrong, launching rockets into the crowd of onlookers." |
| Its report said rockets began bouncing off the market stalls and exploding just above the heads of those in the crowd. | Its report said rockets began bouncing off the market stalls and exploding just above the heads of those in the crowd. |
| The display was halted and the fireworks board moved further back before it continued safely, the website said. | |
| Dorset Police said it was satisfied there was no "malicious or criminal intent" and will not be investigating. | |
| They passed the matter to Trading Standards and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). | |
| Organisers, the Blandford Yuletide Festival Group, said they were "very concerned about the firework display malfunction" and were "cooperating fully with the police and HSE investigation into the cause". | |
| "It would be inappropriate to offer any further comment until this investigation is complete," they added. |