BOLTON became the first place in Britain yesterday to use special day-time fireworks as the town officially started the countdown to the Millennium.

But more people were terrified than celebratory when a series of loud bangs caused by special coloured "smoke shells" surprised people as they went out about their business.

Bolton is one of the first towns in the country to kick-off its Millennium celebrations and put local people in the party mood.

Pensioners, children, shoppers and workers all came to a standstill to see what had happened and people came out of shops too see what was going on when they heard the loud bangs.

Terrified

But the decision to set fireworks off during a busy lunchtime has attracted the critics.

One woman said she had to take her young daughter into a shop because she was terrified a bomb had gone off.

Another woman terrified of fireworks said she was too distraught to return to work after her dinner hour.

One town centre worker, who didn't want to be named, said: "It is terrible planning by the council having fireworks during the day when they can be heard and not seen. "Bolton town centre was packed and nobody knew what was going on. Some people were terrified and thought there was a gunman on the loose or something."

Yesterday's event included a fireworks display and lights show and 2,000 balloons were released with the unveiling of Bolton Council's Millennium Countdown Boards on the town hall square outside Clinton Cards and Andys Records. The bangs were from a series of "smokes shells" from Manchester-based firm Celebration Displays.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We wanted the day to go with a bang, but it seems the bang was actually a bit louder than we anticipated.

Enjoyed

"We spent thousands publicising the event and the BEN was one of the major sponsors and we wanted to get Bolton's Millennium celebrations started in style and for people to have a good time."

She added: "All in all things were very successful and a lot of people enjoyed the show, but it is hard to strike a balance and we are sorry to the people we upset.

"We just want the people of Bolton to enjoy the celebrations leading up to the Millennium."

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