A PUB landlord has vowed never to organise another firework display after a young mum and her baby son were injured in a freak accident.

Mrs Linzi Thomas, 28, suffered burns to her ear and neck and her baby Michael to his face when they were hit by a stray "air bomb" type firework on bonfire night.

Landlord of the Hare and Hounds pub in Stoneclough, Mr Martin Howlin, says he does not want to see anyone else injured at such events.

Mr Howlin said: "I've been organising a display for the village for the past three years and there never have been any problems.

"The thought that Linzi and her son have been injured in an accident is terrible.

"I don't want anyone to go through that again so I don't want to host another display."

Four days after the event Linzi, who used to work at the pub as a barmaid, is still deaf in one ear and is suffering from uncomfortable blisters. She said: "The organisers had cordoned the area off and we were standing well back.

"Martin has been to see me and I know that it was an accident.

"It's just goes to show that even at organised events accidents do happen."

Linzi explained that the firework hit her on the shoulder, exploded and then bounced into the buggy carrying her six-month-old baby son Michael. She explained: "I don't blame anyone for what happened.

"I just want to get the message across that even at organised events you still have to be very careful."

Fortunately Linzi's two other children Chloe, 2, and Laura, 5, who also attended the event were not injured.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.