A BONFIRE night party turned to horror at an organised Bolton pub display when the last firework of the evening shot into the crowd.

About 10 people were taken to hospital from the Lostock Arms, but all escaped serious injury.

Terrified revellers flung themselves to the ground, when the the final firework turned on them, instead of up into the air. A gust of wind took it from its correct trajectory and sprays from the fountain style display dropped over the watching people.

Mrs Janet Crease, a mother of two who was standing in the crowd, said: "It was one of the most frightening moments of my life. One person standing near to me was hit and collapsed.

"We were lucky. We went away shaken but unhurt."

Pub landlord, David Shaw, told the BEN : "I am as gutted as anybody. I am just thankful that no one was seriously hurt.

"We have been putting on organised displays here for nine years and follow all the safety guidelines. We had safety people from the council and had big safety wires all the way around. We went through every aspect of safety but the one thing you can not legislate for is the weather." Elsewhere a gang of youths threw fireworks at firefighters after they put out a bonfire in Park Road, Bolton. Leading fireman Dale Martin said that a gang of 10 youths started throwing lighted Roman Candle fireworks at the officers. He added: "Fortunately none of us were injured."

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