ANGRY residents have condemned a fireworks company for holding a display in the grounds of an Ipswich hospital.Firework Emporium, in Foxhall Road, held a product show at St Clement's Hospital from around 8.

ANGRY residents have condemned a fireworks company for holding a display in the grounds of an Ipswich hospital.

Firework Emporium, in Foxhall Road, held a product show at St Clement's Hospital from around 8.45pm on Sunday, September 12.

Neighbours in nearby Exeter Road complained the fireworks went off for more than an hour, scaring their pets and keeping children awake before a school day.

They also questioned why the display was allowed to take place close to patients with nervous complaints.

Firework Emporium said the display was a review evening to give their customers valuable safety information.

Susan Rutter, of Exeter Road, said: "The fireworks went on for such a long time. My two-year-old Boxer dog was horrendous. He was shaking and cowered in the corner.

"My two children, who are 11 and nine, usually go to bed at 8pm, but it kept them up until 11pm. With school the next day, it wasn't good."

The company did warn residents by putting a leaflet through their door, but some people felt it was an inappropriate place to hold such an event.

Another lady from the same road, who did not wish to be named, added: "I want to know how they can get permission to do this in the grounds of a mental hospital. If they were going to hold a display they could go further out of town.

"I would expect the noise on Guy Fawkes night, but I feel angry that they can just slip a note through the door saying they hope it doesn't cause inconvenience when it obviously does."

Warren Thomas, manager of Firework Emporium, said: "Our review and safety evening is for our customers to view our product range and gain valuable safety information. It is attended by hundreds of customers from as far away as Plymouth and Manchester.

"We hand delivered 1,000 warning notices to surrounding houses. The fireworks started at 8.45pm and finished at approximately 10.05pm.

"The finale was a professional display fired by our firing team. Once the finale had finished it became apparent that one of the shells had not gone off. We monitored the situation and ten minutes later decided the shell had to be fired for safety reasons."

A spokesman for Ipswich Council said: "We did advise the organisers not to use very loud fireworks and to inform local residents by sending out a leaflet. I can confirm that we have received a small number of complaints."

What do you think of fireworks? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk