Thieves steal dangerous fireworks

Dangerous air bomb fireworks have been stolen from the site of a council display in Teesside.

The fireworks contain an explosive charge and detonate between 100-200m (110-220 yards). Their short fuses are detonated electronically and remotely.

The fireworks taken were due for the Stockton Riverside display on Thursday.

Cleveland Police and Stockton Borough Council are appealing for help in tracking down the fireworks as they fear for the safety of untrained users.

Two crates of the missing fireworks have been recovered from bushes in Princess Avenue, Stockton, but three remain missing.

We cannot understate the risk to anyone tampering with or trying to ignite these air bombs Det Ch Insp Derek Carter

Organisers said the display would continue as planned.

The fireworks are described as of wooden construction, approximately four inches (10cm) wide and about two feet (60cm) high.

The crates encased 10 cylindrical cardboard tubes three inches (7.5cm) in diameter which slot into them.

The tubes have no distinguishing marks but contain an explosive charge which, when detonated, will propel an explosive air bomb into the air on a delayed fuse due to detonate between 100-200 metres.

The air bomb is slightly larger than a cricket ball and marked 'ICON pyrotechnics' and is in clear, grease-proof type paper in the bottom of the tube.

Det Ch Insp Derek Carter, of Cleveland Police, said: "We cannot understate the risk to anyone tampering with or trying to ignite these air bombs. They are highly dangerous to anyone nearby.

"These are not the type of fireworks readily available in local shops. If not deployed by trained people in a controlled environment, these devices can, in some circumstances, kill.

"No attempt should be made to do this or throw them on a fire."