St Agnes: 'Rogue' firework fired into crowd at display

A few fireworks went off successfully at the St Agnes display, but one fired into the crowd

A "rogue" firework at an organised display in Cornwall landed in the crowd, causing minor injuries.

The display in St Agnes took place on Sunday evening.

Witnesses described people including children being "terrified", with many running away screaming.

The Driftwood Spars pub, which hosted the event, said it was "shocked" and offered "sincere and heartfelt apologies to those with minor injuries".

• LISTEN: Vanessa Blowing tells BBC Radio Cornwall about her experience at the display

Emergency services were not called to the incident.

The pub said volunteer off-duty paramedics were there and helped two men and a woman who were injured.

There was also a bonfire as part of the celebrations in St Agnes

The woman was taken to hospital by her mother and "quickly discharged after being checked over and treated for minor burns".

Dan, 25, was one of those injured.

"Two minutes in, one of the big ones, instead of going up, went straight towards the crowd," he said.

"I tried to turn my back and move away but it exploded within two metres of me and got my hands.

"After the explosion, I saw an older chap, probably in his 60s, standing in the middle, holding his face. Everyone was screaming and scattering.

"It was a big enough bang to do some damage, so it is really good news nobody was badly hurt."

The event was hosted by the Driftwood Spars pub in St Agnes

In a statement, the pub said: "Regrettably at the firework display last night, one part of a box of fireworks misfired, and a single cell went into the crowd."

It said it was "beyond our control due to the nature of multi fireworks".

"Every precaution is taken in the intensive planning behind this free community display, with thorough risk assessments and training courses undertaken, and an official Fire Marshal in attendance to oversee the event," it added.

"The rogue firework shocked us all, and we offer our sincere and heartfelt apologies to those with minor injuries and to everyone in the crowd for whom we understand this was a very upsetting experience.

"We're all extremely shaken and deeply saddened that what was intended to be a lovely village celebration ended in this way."

Cornwall Council said Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service was not involved in the organisation of the event.

Many venues held fireworks display over the weekend

BBC presenter Anoushka Williams was also there with her daughter and friends.

"I could feel them coming down on the crowd, on me, and on my daughter. And then there was a rogue firework that went off and shot towards the crowd where I was," she said.

"Everybody was screaming, my daughter was terrified and just wanted to go home.

"Everybody screamed and I could see a girl holding her head. Everybody was scared and it was just not the kind of memories that we wanted to make.

"My daughter now never wants to go to fireworks again which is such a shame. They were showering down on us like umbrellas of light and then the two rogue fireworks went directly into the crowd.

"It was a terrifying experience."

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