COMMUNITY leaders have called for a fireworks ban following a spate of blasts, including an incident where a young man was seriously injured.

The 16-year-old boy had part of his hand blown off on Friday night when a firework exploded as he was trying to light it.

John Morrison lost the top of his thumb, part of his index finger and the top of his middle finger in the horrifying fireworks accident in Astley.

The teenager, who works as a chef, was with a group of friends enjoying fireworks on playing fields adjoining St Ambrose Barlow RC Primary School, in Manchester Road, when the accident happened.

He was taken to Leigh Infirmary but was later transferred to Whiston Hospital, St Helens, which specialises in burns.

His dad, Mike, of The Black Swan, Manchester Road, Hollins Green, near Glazebrook, said: "They are young lads who will play with fireworks, but these days they are like bombs.'

Former mayor Cllr Evelyne Smith led the call for a total ban after a "bomb" was lobbed in to the 4U Cash and Carry, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage to the Shakerley estate store in Tyldesley.

This followed further incidents of blown-up post boxes, burning cars and a gutted caravan as firework vandals went on the rampage.

The Shakerly estate vandalism was highlighted by concerned resident John Stackhouse, who this week wrote to Cllr Smith, calling for CCTV to be extended into Cumberland Avenue.

Cllr Smith said: "Fireworks should be banned. We should be stopping youngsters getting hold of them. They seem to be more ferocious and noisier than ever. There must be some power in them to cause the damage they have done here.

"The event seems to drag on from October through to the New Year. I'd ban them altogether, or at least limit them to organised displays only. Even then, there is no need for such loud bangs, which frighten the animals.

"As for CCTV, it would be lovely to extend it into Cumberland Avenue, but the cost is prohibitive at the moment. It will certainly be something to be considered for the future."

And in Leigh, Hope Carr Councillor John O'Brien is warning of the dangers of illegal fireworks after a Lowton church was damaged at the weekend.

Lowton St Mary's Church Hall, in Newton Road, suffered three smashed windows after commercial explosives were set off in the church car park.

The first incident happened at 4pm on Saturday. A giant firework, supposedly sold for commercial use only, was set off in the church car park. Pieces of the device -- which is thought to resemble a football, went through the window of the church hall, leaving smashed glass and debris.

Within half an hour, a second firework was set off from the Church Inn car park across the road. By this time, Vicar the Rev Bob Britton and councillors John O'Brien and Lynne Liptrot were on the scene.

Mr O'Brien said: "I saw four men come out of the Church Inn car park and leave in two vehicles. The police were contacted, but the men escaped."

A third incident happened on Sunday night, less than half an hour after 20 children had been using the church hall for a Sunday group.

The 11-13 year olds had all left by the time the third device smashed more windows.

"I want to convey the danger of these devices to children. What seems like a prank is a potential danger, they need to consider the consequences of their actions," Mr O'Brien said. "The devices used are not meant to be set off on open ground, they are designed for commercial use -- so people are breaking the law.

"This is the only community hall in Lowton, and has recently been refurbished at great expense. It was lucky someone had opened the curtains, otherwise they could have caught fire and the damage would have been much worse."