AN ELDERLY couple escaped serious injury after an industrial firework exploded just feet away from their home, shattering their windows.

Mr Clifford Brookes (64) and his wife, Frances (60), of Mountside Crescent, Prestwich, were in the property at the time of the blast, at around 11pm on Thursday evening (Aug 10).

They were lucky not to have been struck by the flying glass that littered their home.

A total of 12 windows were shattered as the firework, which the couple described as being the size of a grapefruit, exploded on the rear lawn around 10 feet away from the house.

Mr Brookes said: "I was downstairs at the time and heard an ear-splitting bang. "I went outside to have a look and saw gunpowder smoke everywhere. It looks like someone launched it from the 'cop' at the back of the estate."

His wife added: "I had just gone up to bed but 10 minutes sooner and I would have been stood at the kitchen window. It was so loud that I thought it was a bomb."

Relieved to discover the missile was not something more sinister, the terrified couple dialled 999.

Mrs Brookes continued: "The firework has ruined all our flowers and singed the remaining plants.

"It has left a large black mark on the lawn and some of the greenhouse windows were also smashed.

"I was shaking with fear. The cat shot off and didn't return until three in the morning."

The couple said it was like a carpet of glass inside the house. After the windows were boarded up by an emergency glazier, they faced a lengthy clean-up operation.

They finally got to bed in the early hours of the morning but understandably did not get much sleep.

Mr Brookes said: "It was just random stupidity. We are counting ourselves lucky that we weren't injured.

"It has made me realise that you are not even safe in your own home. If it is not being burgled it is being bombed!"

Detectives from Whitefield CID are investigating.