Organising a display - Early preparation is important and it is advisable to set up a small committee with each member having a defined responsibility to organise their part of the display.

Responsibility - The fire brigade, police, neighbours and for sites near the coast, the coastguard should all be informed of your display, well in advance. Particularly if there are young children, the elderly, pets or animals in the vicinity of the proposed site. Keep in close liaison right up to the event. Fire extinguishers and buckets of sand and water should be available on the night with marshalls trained to use them. First aid posts should be manned by trained stewards and clearly signposted.

The Site - Ensure you obtain permission from the land owner where the display is to take place. Allow as much room as possible with no overhead obstructions and keep well clear of buildings. The site should be divided into three areas - the safety area, the firing area and the fall out area (see diagram above). These areas should be clearly defined, marshalled and roped off. Metal litter bins should be provided for the spectators.

Layout and suggested order of firing - It is a good idea start the display with a volley of noise or big effects to get the attention of the crowd. Follow this with rockets then a sequence candles and cakes mixing different effects. Repeat this sequence to suit. The finale should be an impressive combination of noise and colour. This is only a suggested order of firing and by no means rigid. Remember to keep the display moving, so that the visual impact is not lost.

Lighting Fireworks - Always read the instructions on each firework carefully, well before the event. Fireworks should be stored in a sealed container away from the firing site and only taken out as required. Restrict the number of people lighting the fireworks to a maximum of four. On the night it is advisable to wear gloves, ear, head and eye protection. Avoid loose or unbuttoned clothing. Preferably use overalls of a non-flammable material. An electric torch, claw hammer, roll of tape and pliers will be useful. When unpacking the fireworks keep away from naked flames and flammable material. Never smoke when handling or lighting fireworks. Always light fireworks at arms length, and under no circumstances lean over a firework. Never go back to a firework if it fails to ignite.

Rockets - Should launched from a rocket launcher angled slightly away from the spectators and any obstructions. Make sure the rocket launcher is secure and cannot fall over, and the rocket is free to rise.

Candles, Cakes, Fountains and Mines - Insert in soft ground or secure to a stake, which has been sunk into the ground. Make sure that the firework cannot fall over, and that there are no overhanging trees or cables obscuring the path of the firework.

Set Pieces and Wheels - These should be fixed to a frame or post, the higher the better, as the effects cascade to the ground.

Firers - Firers must be 18 years of age or over and should be familiar with all the fireworks being used, and the sequence that they are to be fired in. Go through the routine with all firers prior to the display starting.

Bonfires - Bonfires must always be supervised throughout. They should be down wind of the firing area. Never use inflammables to start the fire, and under no circumstance dispose of fireworks, used or unused on the bonfire.

Rain - Be prepared for rain. Plastic bags, bin liners and cling film, can be used on most fireworks to great effect against the weather. Fireworks will fire through a single thin layer of plastic.

Spectators - It is important to make sure the spectators are well catered for. The area designated to them must be clearly marked, roped off and marshalled. Make sure that it is large enough. Overcrowding can be dangerous. If possible a public address system should be used.

After the Display - Check the site for fireworks that have failed to ignite. Carefully submerge them in water. Never put used or unused fireworks on to a bonfire. Please note some rocket motors are made of aluminium which may leave sharp pieces of debris. Ensure the site is cleared of all debris and rubbish.

Legal firing times - It is now illegal to let fireworks off after 11pm at night except New Year's Eve, Diwalli and Chinese New Year which is 1am and November 5th which is midnight.

BE SAFE AND HAVE A SUCCESSFUL DISPLAY