Blaze led to £10,000 fireworks find (From The Argus)

Blaze led to £10,000 fireworks find

11:30am Friday 2nd December 2011 in News

A BLAZE on an industrial estate led to the discovery of £10,000 of illegally stored fireworks.

More than 100 fireworks were being kept in a large shipping container next to two other containers that were on fire.

Some of the explosives, which were kept alongside fuel, alcohol and a mini-motorbike, were set off by the blaze.

Bomb disposal experts had to be called in to remove the fireworks, which were being kept on the Rudford Industrial Estate in Ford Road near Littlehampton.

Trading standards were also called to investigate the aftermath of the blaze at the request of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

This week the owner of the container was ordered to pay £5,000 after admitting storing explosives without a licence.

Aaron Davies, of Marina View, Littlehampton, appeared at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

He told Trading Standards officers he bought the fireworks in China in 2008 and had intended to sell them on. But when the deal fell through the fireworks were stored in the container.

He was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £2,500 costs.

Pete Bradbury, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for public protection, said: “Anyone storing fireworks requires a licence or registration from Trading Standards.

“We would urge anyone whose business involves storing fireworks, to look at |our Trading Standards Service web pages, which detail the appropriate rules and regulations and contact us |if they need help or |advice.”

Firefighters from Littlehampton and Arundel were called to the blaze at about 4.20am on Monday October 18 last year.

They found two containers on fire. One was put out quickly but it took several hours to put out the second, which contained Calor gas cylinders.

For more information about storage of fireworks contact Trading Standards on 08454 040506 or go to www.westsussex.gov.uk.