THE wrecked car in the picture looks like it was torn apart by a bomb -- but an ordinary firework did this.

Police and fire officers were appalled when they saw the result of the latest prank by youngsters and they have warned someone could soon be killed.

The force of the explosion inside the abandoned Ford Fiesta sent shards of glass and mangled pieces of metal flying across Windermere Avenue, Huncoat, late at night.

The grim statement from Sub-Officer Gary Ibbitson, of Accrington Fire Station, comes after a weekend of problems with fireworks, including cases of fireworks being pushed through shutters, letterboxes and postboxes.

All the incidents had the potenitial to cause serious injury -- and possibly death.

On Saturday, youngsters planted an explosive device, again believed to be firework, inside a 'phone box on Dill Hall Lane, Church.

Sub-Officer Ibbitson said: "If the firework is in an enclosed space, it only takes a small firework to do a lot of damage, as this most recent incident proves.

"It is, in my opinion, a miracle no-one was killed when it exploded. Someone could easily have been passing by and been caught up in the blast.

"The youngsters themselves are putting their lives at risk. They don't know when it is going to explode, do they? They could have had a really nasty surprise." Despite the fact fireworks only legally went on sale last week, the Fire Service across East Lancashire has been inundated with calls about the malicious of use of what is supposed to be a restricted-sale item.

Sub-Officer Ibbitson added: "These youngsters aren't buying £30 or £40 fireworks for their games. They are buying, or getting hold of, cheap ones like air bombs, which are similar to bangers.

"If they carry on playing with fireworks in this way, it is only a matter of time before someone dies or sustains horrendous injuries. That car was in the worst state I have seen any car in 20 years."

Jim Potts, Lancashire's chief trading standards officer, said: "We have already had reports of the misuse of fireworks. People could find themselves in hot water if they are selling them to someone they know is selling them on to youngsters."

Police are probing the incident, and are appealing for information.

Picture: PC Mark Royle-Evatt observes the wrecked Fiesta.