A heavily-pregnant woman has told of the horror moment a masked yob hurled a bundle of exploding display fireworks into a crowded pub.
The ‘makeshift bomb’ of 20 fireworks taped together landed near Amy Royle, who was with partner Jon Flood and dad Raymond at the Melville Hotel, Barton Road, Stretford.
Customers ran for cover as scorching red missiles showered the bar area. Amy, who is 41 weeks pregnant, was bundled into the ladies’ toilets.
Customer Viv St Paul was hit in the face by an exploding shell before she ran to safety. Both women escaped serious injury.
Police are now investigating the ‘reckless and stupid’ attack, which was captured on the pub's CCTV system. The graphic footage shows the thug lighting the fireworks outside before throwing them inside and running off. The explosion is also caught on camera.
Amy, 28, who works at a doctors’ surgery, is originally from Canada but has been living in Stretford for six years. She said: “The shots from the fireworks were firing everywhere. People were just running about the place. It was awful.
“Jon and my dad pushed me into the ladies toilets because that was the nearest room away from the bar. I am 41 weeks pregnant and even after this it still didn’t trigger anything. I was really shook up but I was more concerned about the bump. The midwife came out to see me later but I was okay. The baby seems quite content.”
Viv, 41, a hairdresser at New Reflections on Barton Road, was enjoying a drink with friends and suffered a cut nose.
She said: “Me and two others ran into the toilet. I didn’t realise I’d been hit until one of the girls saw my nose bleeding. I couldn’t see anyone – the room was just full of smoke. I was so terrified. They weren’t normal fireworks, they looked like an explosive. I was still in shock most of the night. It’s been playing on my mind what could have happened.”
Viv’s partner Phil Cumpsty, 41, added: “It was like a firework display indoors. I just think about what could have happened – we had some friends with small children in earlier.”
Thirty customers were inside at the time. Landlord David Brown was having a meal in Manchester when he got a call from his son and raced back. He said: “When I got there the pub was just covered in smoke. You couldn’t see the person in front of you.
"This is a proper boozer. There are never any arguments and it is always peaceful. This is very much out of character and I cannot understand why this has happened.
“The CCTV is very dramatic. It shows the thing exploding and about 45 minutes of smoke-filled rooms afterwards.
“It landed on the carpet and was almost like a bomb. Apparently it was just boom after boom. We are all just glad that no one was hurt and hope the police catch this person soon.”
The pub's CCTV cameras also filmed the culprit outside as they lit the firework and threw it in:
The CCTV footage is being studied by detectives. Call police with information on 0161 856 7655 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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This kind of thing doesn't happen in Canada, I'd move back if I were here, nothing in this cess pit.
What comment can you make, mindless. This is nothing less than a terrorist attack. Lets see what Anthony from Accrington says.
Do we need any more evidence to ban these fireworks?
If the culprit is caught, do him for attempted murder.
What does it matter where Amy is from? These mindless cowardly low lifes better hope the police catch them before someone else does and issues them with their own kind of justice.
Just shows what cowards they are, peoples justice should be served with these idiots then they definatley would think twice about doing anything like this again. I am just glad Amy and the baby are ok.
Ban Commercial sales of fireworks: Every year, Fireworks are sold to the public and cause injury, mayhem and increase a level of uneasiness on the streets. The best displays are always those run by professional groups, on a large scale and often free. Check what your local council are doing this year.
If the CPS has a backbone and the perpetrators caught, I'd go for attempted manslaughter. Failing that, arson. Utter scumbags.
Andanotherthing, Anthony's tormented neighbour
Lets have organised firework displays that are safe and are family friendly.
I can't understand why anyone would want to pay at least £25 for a box of ultimately disappointing fireworks when public displays are so much more impressive and in many cases, free to attend. I don't see the thrill in lighting something, nothing happening, considering whether it's gone out then realising it actually hasn't gone out, it's just rubbish.
Ban Commercial sales of fireworks: Every year, Fireworks are sold to the public and cause injury, mayhem and increase a level of uneasiness on the streets. The best displays are always those run by professional groups, on a large scale and often free. Check what your local council are doing this year
And as if the Govt are gonna listen to you. I REFUSE TO GO TO ORGANISED DISPLAYS AS DO THE SENSIBLE MAJORITY WHO USE FIREWORKS PROPERLY AT HOME.
My objection to Anthony is he will be letting them off on the 5th, 6th and 7th. He gets to enjoy not only his bonfire night celebration, but his entire weekend. But ruins mine
But you're not my neighbour you're a traitor!
Sandra Berisford, Munchester (21/10/2010 at 13:49)
I can't understand why anyone would want to pay at least £25 for a box of ultimately disappointing fireworks when public displays are so much more impressive and in many cases, free to attend. I don't see the thrill in lighting something, nothing happening, considering whether it's gone out then realising it actually hasn't gone out, it's just rubbish
They're NOT all rubbish,and many DO go off after lighting!
Total cretin!
Typical Stretford Yobs once again..
Andanotherthing, Anthony's tormented neighbour
You're still a traitor!
Matt Hulme, Salford (21/10/2010 at 14:30)
If Anthony wants to watch his money go up in smoke let him, just a shame he objects to my money going up in a different kind of smoke. But that woulde be because he is a hypocrite
And you're a Matt Hulme idiot!
FIREWORKS ARE ABSOLUTELY POINTLESS. THE GOV'T SHOULD BAN THE BLOODY THINGS.
Always seems a good idea to let untrained and unskilled people loose with what are really nothing more than explosives that can badly injure themselves or more importantly others.
Only qualified pyrotechncians should be allowed to buy and set off fireworks, then at least there is some accountabilty if there is an accident, those that want to do there own "at home" displays can go an sit the course and get their qualifications.
Plus a lot of the less reputable fireworks shops will sell illegal imported fireworks or ones that are meant firing with electic fuses which could even kill if not handled correctly.
Have to agree with the majority of comments here. I love to see big, showy displays of fireworks that are properly controlled and organised - it's the child in me. However, there should be a ban on the selling of fireworks to numpties (the vast majority of the 'general public' IMO).
Just one minor point. 41 weeks pregnant?????
Why are fireworks sold so early.....
They should be sold from Nov 1st until 8pm Nov 5th...........end of.
In this age of H & S, I find it amazing that incendiary and explosive devices can be on open sale. Once they are out of that shop they can be available to anyone, including moronic scum. The dire possibilities are endless and this story is a prime example.
The authorities can go out of their way to stop you having too much salt on your chips (policing salt cellars in chippies), and restrict conkers, yet they allow this. It doesn't really add up. Organised displays only, are the answer. Personally, I stopped raving over fireworks when I was 16. When you've seen one go off you've seen them all.
Only qualified pyrotechncians should be allowed to buy and set off fireworks, then at least there is some accountabilty if there is an accident, those that want to do there own "at home" displays can go an sit the course and get their qualifications
You're a daft killjoy/fuddyduddy and spoilsport matt that'll never happen;yeah I can see people getting trained to use aerial sheels/chinese firecrackers and large industrial grade fireworks and this being allowed by the government-no chance. The Govt have said time and time again "we see no case to ban fireworks from sale and public use because the sensible majority use them properly and when used properly can be a spectacular form of entertainment.", but divs like you don't seem to see that. This sort of incident doesn't happen all the time, round my way it has been a bit quieter than usual because Lancashire Trading Standards has put fear of god into the retailers and threatened retailers of the consequences that will happen if fireworks are sold to under18's and the police round my way are cracking down on youths who carry fireworks in public places and where parents don't give a sh*t prosecuting them too. When the laws on fireworks are enforced it CAN work, I don't see incidents like this and neither do the Government as a reason to ban fireworks;because the blackmarket will only fill that sales gap if legal sales of BS7114 part 2 1988 compliant fireworks are banned with more lethal imported unknown origin fireworks of poor/dangerous quality and this will only end up in more tragedies.
Joe Kerr (21/10/2010 at 17:23)
Did you ever consider that some familys may prefer to have a nice time together watching fireworks in the comfort of their own garden, rather than trudging out to a muddy field in the freezing cold, surrounded by strangers just to see some fireworks
I agree joe, if things are done right and organised properly at home with responsible adults like myself in charge of the fireworks then it can be just as safe as an organised event. I personally do not want to have to go fireworks displays on muddy wet fields to watch fireworks with a load of strangers and neither should the sensible majority of people who use fireworks sensibly and safely If I was in power then I personally wouldn't want to take fireworks away from the sensible just because of idiots misusing them, but would come down heavy on shops selling to under18's and would jail adults who buy fireworks for under18's as well as parents who give fireworks to the under18's and incidents as happened here, there would be a jail sentence for those misusing them NOT fines and community sentences and compensation. My actions would come down hard on the misusers but leave the responsible families and individuals who use fireworks sensibly to enjoy themselves.
Anthony, if I'm paying in excess of £25 for a product, surely I couldn't be blamed for expecting ALL the fireworks to "go off". It's like buying a dozen eggs and accepting that four of them have "gone off". Would you accept that Anthony? I doubt it
Dud fireworks,failures and dangerous occurences with fireworks are relatively fewer now than they were when Chinese import fireworks first hit the scene in the early to mid 80's.