Playing with fire

Andrew Worden, aged 13, survived an accident on November 11 last year when he and four friends found an abandoned firework on a school playing field.

He needed several operations -- the last one only six weeks ago -- and the scars are still visible on his right hand and ear.

His father Graham said: "A firework expert said that if the inside of the firework hadn't been as wet as it was, it would have wiped them out. As it was, it only partly exploded."

Figures prove the vast majority of these accidents happen to youngsters like Andrew.

But Mr and Mrs Worden -- they also have a 16-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter -- believe a total ban on firework sales, as suggested by Mr Crausby, the Bolton North East MP, would be ineffective.

They would rather see fellow Bolton MP Brian Iddon's ideas implemented -- including limiting the sale of fireworks to a short period at a restricted number of outlets.

Graham, aged 32, said: "I don't know if I agree with a complete ban. But restrictions on sales should be tighter.

"They should sell them from November 1. After Bonfire Night that should be it."

Speaking from their Victory Road home -- while fireworks are already exploding outside in the quiet street -- mum Janet said: "It has started already and I'm not pleased about it.

"Even before Andrew had his accident I didn't like fireworks -- because they frighten me.

"There should be one place where you can buy fireworks instead of at paper shops, garden centres and supermarkets.

"There should just be one distributor."

She said the family would be staying indoors on November 5.

Graham, an engineer with Sandusky Walmsley on Crompton Way, explained why he thought a ban would not work.

"I don't think you can ban fireworks altogether. Somebody, somewhere, will always get hold of them. You would still get your hands on one if you wanted to."

Andrew's accident last year happened despite his parents' warnings not to play with fireworks and annual school visits by the fire brigade.

"As much as you tell them, they still do it," said Janet, a 34-year-old special needs assistant at Withins School.

And Graham said Andrew had been told off about playing with fireworks by every doctor he saw during his treatment.

Andrew said his accident happened when he went to watch his friend play football.

He saw a firework and he and some friends took it to behind Kwik Save in Little Lever.

Andrew held the firework while one of his friends lit it. Then the firework -- later established to be an illegal display one -- exploded in his hand before he could drop it.

A security guard helped Andrew into Kwik Save where the manager bandaged his hand. An ambulance took the injured teenager to Royal Bolton Hospital.

As soon as he arrived there, it was decided Andrew needed special surgery.

Dad Graham said: "It ripped his hand open and his face was covered in gun powder. They had to scrub his face with a toothbrush to get it clean."

Andrew was transferred to Withington Hospital the same day and underwent microsurgery at the burns unit the day after.

The impact of the blast had broken a finger which had to be pinned during the first operation.

During a second operation, dead muscle had to be removed from his hand and deep scars are still visible -- showing Andrew was lucky not to have lost any fingers.

Only six weeks ago, Andrew had to have an operation to remove scar tissue from his ear which had been hit by a piece of the firework.

"We have been to and from hospital quite regularly," said Graham.

"But he has been very lucky, really. I think Andrew has learned his lesson." Remember, remember the risks of November FIGHT for Sight -- the UK's leading charity in the battle against blindness -- warns that children and teenagers are most at risk when fireworks are mishandled.

It said that accidents involving fireworks cause more injuries to the eyes than to any other part of the body apart from the hands. The charity -- an official partner of the Department of Trade and Industry's annual firework safety campaign -- stresses that the run-up to November 5 can be just as dangerous as Bonfire Night itself.

TV presenter Gail Porter is backing Fight for Sight's campaign to alert people to the dangers.

"This is a period of time when youngsters tend to fool around with fireworks, or be tempted by older kids to play about with them. Fireworks are explosives so parents must caution their kids not to be led on and to leave lighting fireworks to adults who are experienced at handling them."

Gail shares the view that injuries which damage the sight of young people are tragedies affecting not only their vision but also their future lives. The charity also emphasises that firework displays at organised bonfire events are the safest venues for families to enjoy them.

The charity's chief executive, Julie Buckler, said: "Fight for Sight hopes that firework spectaculars on and around November 5 will remind people of how precious their sight is."