Bristol shop sells specialist fireworks

Bonfire Night is certainly the busiest time of the year for one shop on the Gloucester Road in Bristol which specialises in selling fireworks.

But although the days leading up to tonight see a steady flow of customers through the doors at Superstars Fireworks – which this evening will remain open until 11pm – the shop sells fireworks all-year round.

Over the last few days, Superstars has taken on five temporary workers alongside their three full-time staff, some of whom have worked during this period for a number of years.

Manager Janis Seward, 30, a native of Phoenix, Arizona, where she met her husband and shop owner Mike when he was on holiday, said that this time of year is hectic but fun.

"It's definitely our busiest time, without a doubt," she said. "We get all sorts of people here, from housewives who want to buy something small for their children, to all the pubs along the Gloucester Road who are having their own displays.

"I may work with fireworks all day but I still love watching displays. My family back home are mad on fireworks, we love them. In America, it's all about the 4th of July."

Here, fireworks are traditionally set off around Bonfire Night, but Mrs Seward said that they are becoming more popular throughout the year, especially for weddings.

"Fireworks are for celebrating and for having a good time," Mrs Seward added. "They go hand in hand with parties."

The most expensive firework at Superstars is the £175 Dynasty, a huge firework that lasts for three minutes and features fast firing, lots of colours, bangs and big star bursts.

One of the most popular items is the £30 Titan rocket, with big bursts that can fill the night sky.

Superstars have a strict policy of not letting any under-18s into the shop without adults and challenge anyone who looks under 25. It is an offence for under-18s to possess fireworks in a public place and for anyone to let fireworks off between the hours of 11pm and 7am.

It is also an offence to throw or set off fireworks in any highway, street, thoroughfare or public place.

And under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animals, so the advice is to keep pets safely indoors tonight and this weekend.