THE Army bomb disposal team is on standby after thieves stole ‘incredibly dangerous’ commercial fireworks.

Accrington police contacted the forces to seek advice, following the theft of eight ‘mortar shells’ from the Accrington Cricket Club‘s display.

Organisers only noticed that the powerful rockets had gone missing when the ‘big finale’ did not happen.

Police fear youths may have stolen them and have issued a public safety warning because of the potential danger the shells pose in the wrong hands.

Accrington Cricket Club chairman Alven Burrows said: “There’s usually a big crescendo at the end, but we were all waiting for the big finale and nothing happened.

“Nobody clapped.

“It was only on Sunday that I heard the final display had been stolen.”

Commercial-grade fireworks are shells which are loaded into separate mortars by hand.

Inspector David Mangan said that they were ‘incredibly dangerous’ in the wrong hands.

He said: “The professional display staff are very worried.

“We’ve got such concern that we contacted the Army to gain advice.

“If they are partially set off, the bomb disposal team will turn out to make them safe.

“Our fear is that some children set them off on the local park.

“If it goes horribly wrong there could be some serious injuries.

“The amount of gunpowder in these commercial fireworks could easily blow a limb off.

“We would urge whoever has taken them to contact the police and make arrangements to return them.

“Don’t risk injuring yourself.”

The family event, raising money for local charities, was organised by Hyndburn Rotaract Club and held at the cricket club’s Thorneyholme Road ground.

A spokesman for the Army said that the police service often approached the disposal unit for expert advice and that they would be willing to respond on request to any incident.

He said: “As well as training for the likes of Afghanistan and the explosive devices out there, part of our role is to assist the civilian community.”