Anger as ‘orchestrated’ fireworks let off at 2am

FED up residents vented their frustration after a group of people launched fireworks in the early hours.

It’s believed the fireworks were set off from multiple locations in Rawtenstall in a seemingly “orchestrated” incident, which took place from midnight until around 2am on Tuesday, August 18.

Locals reported seeing them being launched from Bank Street and Whitaker Park areas, after being woken by loud banging and frightened pets.

“They were lighting at least 15 at a time, it was that bright and loud,” one resident who lives close to Whitaker Park told the Free Press.

“It went on a good five minutes. According to my fiancée, they were also being set off at the other side of Rawtenstall at the same time, which makes us wonder if it was actually all orchestrated.

“I didn’t see the people unfortunately, but the fireworks I saw were definitely from Whitaker.”

It’s not known at this stage who was setting the fireworks off or why.

Infuriated residents have been posting on social media, with one saying their dog was ‘cowering underneath the bed’, and another saying they heard it from as far away as Crawshawbooth.

“It was obviously coordinated as at 1.45 we saw a large display down near The Hub, at the same time another one in the centre of Rawtenstall and a couple of minutes later one up near Whitaker Park,” another resident posted on Facebook.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of reports of fireworks being set off around Bank Street in Rossendale at around midnight and again around 2am in the Bank Street and Whitaker Park areas. We would like to make it clear we did deploy officers to both areas on both occasions. On police arrival there were no youths present and no disturbance taking place.”

It is against the law for anyone to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, except for on Bonfire Night, New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.