Firework goes off in crowd at Fawkes in The Walks in Lynn

A record-setting 20,000 people attended Fawkes in The Walks in King's Lynn last night (Friday, November 1).

But the free event, run by West Norfolk Council, ended traumatically for some after the rocket exploded among those watching the last minutes of the main firework display. 

The event saw record numbers attend (Image: Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk) A woman who was in the crowd says she suffered burns to her hands and had to go to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's A&E department for further treatment. 

The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk's news and events team issued a statement. It said: "We're aware that one firework entered the crowd last night which was not one from our Fawkes in the Walks display.

"Our doctor and paramedics attended to four people in the park.

"Each received treatment for minor injuries and were thankfully able to leave the park afterwards.

"Although we make a great effort each year to discourage fireworks or sparklers in the park, the firework that entered the crowd was from a property outside our event.

"Thankfully we had sufficient experts on hand to deal with this.

"Our thoughts are with the four who were injured and we wish them a speedy recovery."

Louise Turner pictured at the event with her son (Image: Louise Turner) Louise Turner, who was near a sweet stand when the rocket raced past her and her baby's head, said: "If I had been standing just a few centimetres off it would have hit me and my baby son, who I was carrying on my back.

"The firework shot to the ground around two metres in front of us and exploded making everyone jump back.

"My daughter was very frightened so we left straight away in case more went off.

"We go to Fawkes in The Walks every year but unfortunately it has put my daughter off wanting to go again."

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Another woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "A man came running over to the alley behind us saying it had just missed his daughter and hit a little girl. 

"My partner saw a firework explode among a group of about six people completely showering them and it looked like it hit one of them in the chest.

"Then all you could see was red and orange from the firework as it exploded.

"It was a while before two police officers arrived, I would have thought they would have been a few meters apart all around the place."

Following the incident, many are calling for a ban on the sale of fireworks to members of the public, while others are worried that the incident may jeopardise the future of the town's beloved event. 

Norfolk Constabulary has been approached for comment.