Refund calls as smoke 'blocks' Edgbaston fireworks display

Spectators who attended a fireworks display at a cricket ground have called for refunds after saying the show was ruined by weather conditions.

Videos online show what appears to be thick smoke blocking the display at Edgbaston Stadium on Saturday evening.

The event was billed as the "biggest fireworks spectacular in Birmingham", but ticket holders flocked to social media to express their disappointment.

The venue said adverse weather conditions had affected the event.

Hundreds of people filled the stands in anticipation for the show.

In a video that was shared with the BBC, the display appeared to start as expected with an array of colourful pyrotechnics exploding in the sky.

However, thick plumes of smoke appear to emit from the site, blocking the view of the display.

Many spectators said they were "disappointed" by the show and have called for refunds

Several clips being shared on X have shown families standing up to leave in the middle of the show, while others appear to be in shock at what is taking place.

Steph Darby, from Tipton, had spent nearly £100 to take her family to see the show.

She said: "When the fireworks started, within about 20 seconds it had evidently gone wrong.

"It went smoky really quickly, you couldn't see any of the fireworks, you couldn't even see where it was lighting from the floor.

"Everyone then noticed that the fireworks were hitting the floodlights but it didn't seem to be clearing the stadium at all, it was just smoke, you couldn't see a thing.

"It was disappointing, my two children had never seen fireworks before and they were really excited. People were walking out five minutes into it."

Steph Darby with her children Ellie, Olivia and Niamh

Bernie Phillips, from Kings Heath, was also in the crowd with her daughter hoping to see the display.

She told the BBC: "As the smoke came in, quite of a lot of the young children were getting scared so people just left.

"Some of the only fireworks that we could see were hitting the floodlights, which was a little bit scary.

"They carried on, which seems like a waste of thousands of pounds."

Scores of people have called for refunds.

One X user said: "We ended up going back inside, the smoke was choking us, I've never seen so much from a fireworks display before.

"Display should have been stopped in the first minute and delayed."

Another added: "Shame - we had high hopes for this but seeing the fireworks bounce off the floodlights and then just a total disaster from there, very disappointed, we would like a refund."

Many people got up to leave during the show

A spokesperson for Edgbaston Stadium said: "The Fireworks Spectacular is one of the most popular events in our calendar, with families returning year after year, so it's really disappointing the adverse weather conditions impacted last night's event.

"The same type and volume of fireworks were used on Friday night at the stadium and 4,000 visitors enjoyed an amazing display on a clear night.

"However, last night there was a lingering mist and the atmospheric conditions were such that smoke from the fireworks failed to dissipate. We understand that other displays in the region were also affected by the conditions."

The venue said it worked with an experienced pyrotechnics company to stage the event, adding it is thoroughly risk assessed in advance and during the display.

An investigation into the issue has been launched and the stadium says it will communicate with all ticket holders as soon as possible.