Bridgwater woman has firework fury (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Bridgwater woman has firework fury

12:06pm Monday 5th November 2007 in News By David Hemming

A WESTONZOYLAND Road woman has told of her fear after a firework struck her in the face likening the area to "downtown Beirut".

Sue Markes was in the back yard of her home at around 8pm on Monday (October 29) when she claims a rocket called a Missile Strike came over from a nearby estate and hit her on her nose - only centimetres away from her eyes.

She told the Mercury: "It was the icing on the cake, the rocket scratched my nose so the injuries weren't serious but if I hadn't jerked my head back it would have hit me in the eye and possibly blinded or even killed me."

Sue says that her life has been made a misery since the fireworks went on sale this year and is fed up with the constant barrage of explosions all night every night.

"It's like living in downtown Beirut," she said.

"It's not just youngsters who are to blame, parents and their children set them off together - what sort of example is that?

"There just seems to be a complete lack of consideration amongst people for their neighbours, young children and their pets."

Now Sue wants tighter controls on the fireworks that are sold in High Street stores in order to cut down on what she describes as a form of anti-social behaviour.

"I had a lucky escape but others might not be so fortunate - the council needs to take another look at the fireworks that are being sold," she added.

Spokesman for Somerset County Council Jan Hookings replied: "Shopkeepers have to be registered to sell fireworks.

"Sales are restricted to over-18s, and if there are any suspicions then shopkeepers should ask for identification.

"We have no control over how people set off fireworks."