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Firework shrapnel 'a danger to children and pets'

BBC/Leanne Brown Carol Bailey frowns as she holds a shard of green plastic debris up to the camera. She wearing glasses and a green and white blouse. She is standing in a leafy garden with green grass fringed by neat green shrubs and trees. To her left is a light-brown brick wall. BBC/Leanne Brown
Carol Bailey with one of the shards of plastic found on her driveway after Bonfire Night

A woman from Hull wants stricter regulations on fireworks after she found sharp pieces of plastic scattered across her garden.

Carol Bailey said she was "shocked" to discover the debris littering her property after Bonfire Night and feared children and pets could be hurt.

Mrs Bailey said many people would not realise how much debris falls to the ground.

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said anyone who finds shrapnel should wait until it is cold before using a dustpan and brush to sweep it up.

“I started to see all these bits of plastic just shining all over the driveway," Mrs Bailey said.

“They were really sharp and dangerous. I put gloves on because I was a bit concerned."

BBC/Leanne Brown Remains of fireworks, including a plastic tube and pieces of brightly coloured, sharp-edged plastic, displayed on a garden table. The colours include blue, pink and green.BBC/Leanne Brown
Some of the shrapnel Mrs Bailey collected from her lawn

She said she was worried cats and dogs could walk on the shards.

“One of these could have damaged a child's face. I could have had my own grandchildren here," she added.

Fireworks are regulated under the law and must comply with strict safety standards.

However, Mrs Bailey said she was shocked to find they were made of plastic, rather than cardboard or paper.

"You might think they look really pretty in the sky, but I don’t think people realise that this is what comes down to the ground,” she added.

BBC/Leanne Brown A close-up of a shard of purple plastic, with sharp edges, on a green lawnBBC/Leanne Brown
Mrs Bailey says she was surprised to find plastic on her lawn

Kieren Garner a prevention advisor for the fire service, warned that all sorts of debris could fall from the sky.

''Obviously what goes up must come down," he said.

"A lot of fireworks are attached to sticks which should be firmly planted in the ground... but sometimes these end up going up into the air.

"It could be really dangerous."

Mr Garner advised people to attend organised displays.

"Especially with some of the larger rockets, they are big, thick pieces of plastic.

"That's why we advise going to public displays. You're in larger fields, there's less chance of anything like this happening."

Mrs Bailey said she hoped her experience would prompt others to think again about letting off fireworks in their back gardens.

"I just thought someone could have been really seriously injured.

"I couldn’t imagine what they would have done to someone’s eye.”

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