It didn’t turn out to be the great ‘event’ it was supposed to be, but it was a world record nonetheless.
About 175,000 people turned out to see ‘Roar on the Shore’, and attempt to set a Guinness World Record by setting of 110,000 fireworks within 60 seconds from a barge between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers.
The spectators were expecting a spectacular fireworks display, rockets shooting up towards the heavens, but what they got was something totally different and, for most of them, rather disappointing.
The whole lot went up almost at once, within six seconds, creating one huge explosion and giving the appearance that the barge had just blown up.
The problem appears to have been as a result of prevailing wind conditions and concerns for safety, with a very short fuse being set. The result was one huge explosion, a bit like a bomb going off according to many reports.
Although disappointing for the spectators who had gathered to see a display, it was still apparently a record and is awaiting verification by Guinness. The previous record, 56,645 fireworks, was set in Plymouth in 2006.
The barge did actually catch fire in the explosion but it was quickly put out using an extinguisher.