Free Fireworks display after fireworks flop

Display location:Poole Bay
City:Dorset
Country:UK
Date:Thursday 20^th August 2009 9:30pm

Details: A fireworks company has vowed to stage a free display next year after a world record attempt by setting off 110,000 fireworks was branded "disappointing".

About 175,000 people saw the Roar on the Shore spectacle, which marked the start of the four-day Bournemouth Air Festival on Thursday.

But spectators were not happy that the whole display only lasted six minutes and the record attempt six seconds.

Fantastic Fireworks has offered to stage a free display next year.

Jon Culverhouse, managing director, said: "We fulfilled our part of the contract with Bournemouth council to stage a world record attempt but it took less time than expected.

"The publicity should have said the fireworks would go off in less than 60 seconds.

"[Spectators] felt short-changed even though we did what the council asked.

"We didn't deliver on the showmanship and blotted our copybook."

'Mayhem'

The record attempt was made using rockets which explode shortly after ignition and therefore do not travel far up into the air.

The rockets were launched from a barge, which then caught fire, between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers.

Mr Culverhouse said the company was willing to stage a £15,000 "60 seconds of mayhem" display next year.

Bournemouth council will consider the idea before plans for next year are finalised.

Fantastic Fireworks is submitting evidence to the Guinness Book of World Records for last week's attempt.

The previous record of 56,645 fireworks was set in Plymouth in 2006.