Rossendale phone booth wrecked in firework attack (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rossendale phone booth wrecked in firework attack

7:16pm Sunday 31st October 2010 in News By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

FIREWORK: The damaged phone box

FIREBUGS lighting fireworks in phone boxes are risking their lives, a senior firefighter has warned.

The warning comes after a kiosk was wrecked at the junction of Hall Street and Market Street, Whitworth, last night.

Just before 7pm a firework was set off in the call box, causing a small explosion and demolishing the handset.

The kiosk, which is only yards from a public car park and recycling centre, and the Dog and Partridge pub, has been sealed off.

Watch manager Chris Howarth said the plastic handset and buttons had melted and the internal workings of the phone were badly damaged.

Mr Howarth said: “There was an explosion and the inside of the glass in the kiosk was also affected by smoke.

“But we need to highlight just how much of a risk that people who set off a firework in an enclosed space are taking.

“There have been incidents where people have lost limbs or even been killed when they accidentally light the touchpaper and it goes off.

“This is apart from the damage which is done to the kiosk itself. It can be very dangerous for everyone involved.”

Modern fireworks were also much more powerful than the ordinary display rockets and bangers of 10 or 15 years ago, he added.

Coun Alan Neal, who represents Healey and Whitworth on Rossendale Council, said there had been a number of disorder problems in the area.