A STRAY firework sparked a mattress fire after it entered the back door of a property in Poole as people celebrated at the weekend ahead of Bonfire Night.

The mattress caught fire on the ground floor of the property in Solly Close on Saturday night.

Fire crews from Westbourne and Redhill Park attended after they were called at 9.30pm but the occupant had already managed to extinguish the fire.

It is not known if the firework was set off by the occupant.

Later the same night, an out of control bonfire caused a fire involving a hedgerow measuring 20 metres and summer house. Firefighters from Poole were called to a garden in Magna Road just after 10pm.

Firefighters had to put out a fire at The Three Tuns in Bransgore after a hog roast caught fire during a charitable firework display organised by Bransgore School on Friday night.

Restaurant manager Katy Davies said it was a “minor” fire which was put out by firefighters who were already there as a precaution. “It was a bit of entertainment for everyone,” she said. 

Thousands of people attended a number of organised displays across the weekend with events taking place at the Littledown Centre, Stanpit, Butchers Coppice, East Dorset Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Ringwood Raceway Matchams, Sherborne Castle and Stourfield Junior School alone on Saturday night.

Darren Gilbert, site manager at Butchers Coppice Outdoor Activity Centre, said around 10,000 people turned out for their spectacle which is now in its 25th year.

He said: “We’re happy with the number of people who turned out and of course we had fantastic weather. It is a very good display. We get a lot of good feedback. It’s the same quality as the ones we’ve held for the past 24 years.”

The display raises money for Scout groups across Bournemouth as well as local charities.

Between 7,000 and 8,000 people turned out for fireworks at the Littledown Centre, including the White Knuckle display.

Organiser Mick Callaghan said although conditions had been slightly windy it was a “very safe and very well put together show”.

Tonight a free display takes place at Poole Quay at 8pm.