A man has been left fighting for his life after someone threw a lit firework through his letterbox causing a fire in the property.
The 56-year-old man's house in Birmingham was targeted on Thursday at 11pm. The man, who has been identified locally as Tony Nicholls, suffered smoke inhalation and serious burns and had to be taken to hospital for emergency treatment.
His girlfriend escaped the fire by jumping from a window, but suffered fractures to her lower limbs.
Police are treating the incident as arson. Credit: SWNS
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Neighbour Matthew Green told the Birmingham Mail: "It's terrible. It's so shocking, and it's unnerved everyone. You see stuff like this on the TV but to have it on your own doorstep is a shock.
"The house looks totally gutted, but the firemen were just fantastic. They just got straight in there to try and save whoever was inside."
Police are treating the fire as arson and are appealing for anyone in the area who may have seen anything to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Burton said: "The occupants of the address are in a critical condition in hospital and we are urging anyone who has information to help us trace those responsible to contact us."
Credit: SWNS
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The incident happened as a petition proposing a ban on the sale of fireworks in the UK has gained over 37,000 signatures in just a few days.
The online petition calls on the Government to: "Change the laws governing the use of fireworks to include a ban on public use.
"We call on the Secretary of State to make appropriate provision to secure that the risk of public use is the MINIMUM that is compatible with fireworks being used, as stated in Fireworks Act 2003 sect 2."
If it reaches 100,000 signatures it will be considered for a debate in parliament.
Credit: petition.parliament.uk
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The current law states you must not set off fireworks in the street, or between 11pm and 7am, except for on Bonfire Night, New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, which have a slightly later cut-off. All fireworks sold in the UK have a maximum noise level of 120 decibels and setting off fireworks in a public place - without proper permission - is also against the law.
Source: The Birmingham Mail
Featured Image Credit: SWNSTopics: UK News