Fireworks display killed rabbit and set fire to shed

Matt Rodda MP Fireworks being set off in a public park in Reading on New Year's Eve.Matt Rodda MP
Eyewitnesses said up to a hundred people gathered for the impromptu display

An impromptu New Years fireworks display in a Reading park that set fire to nearby buildings killing a pet rabbit, has been branded as "irresponsible" and "criminal".

Reading Borough Council is writing to residents near Kensington Road Park warning any repeat could lead to prosecutions.

A video shot by one resident shows crowds gathering to watch the fireworks, shortly after midnight on 1 January.

One eyewitness said he had urged people to stop setting off fireworks after the fence of a nearby house, along with a shed housing rabbits and guinea-pigs, was set alight.

Peter Finnan who tried to save the animals caught in the fire, looks at the fire damage.
Peter Finnan returned to the scene of the fire where he helped rescue several pets from the flames.

One of the animals died, despite neighbours' attempts to rescue the pets.

Resident Peter Finnan said had been at a party with friends when they heard the fireworks being set off by a group of about 100 people gathered in the park.

"We noticed a shed in a garden beside the park was on fire and we tried to get the people to stop," he said.

He said the crowd seemed to be too caught up in the fireworks to listen to their pleas to stop.

"There were flames going up about 10 feet.

"We were able to get in and pull the guinea-pigs out and they were fine but the rabbits were higher up on the shelves and one of them didn't make it.

"It was hard to see in there and it was obviously a traumatic event," he said.

Neighbours have launched a crowdfunding campaign for the woman whose property and pets were caught up in the fire.

MP Matt Rodda holds a spent firework found in the park.
Spent fireworks can still be found in the park, despite a clean-up.

Reading MP Matt Rodda has also called for action to ensure there is no repeat of the incident.

"Fireworks seem to have got bigger and there seem to be more large fireworks available in the shops.

"This New Year's Eve it was quite windy and the combination of those two things can be quite dangerous," he said.

He urged people not to stage their own firework displays.

Reading Borough Council which owns the park said it had been in contact with Thames Valley Police which said it would make sure it was ready to deal with any similar incident in future.

The council said it would be distributing leaflets reminding people the use of fireworks in a "dangerous and irresponsible manner" would be be subject to prosecution.

"We condemn the behaviour of anyone that would participate in such reckless illegal activity that results in the level of trauma inflicted on this family and other residents in the area due to the irresponsible merry-making activities of a few," it said.

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