REMEMBER, Remember the Fifth of November... Worcestershire will be forever linked with the abortive Gunpowder Plot to blow up James I, and the Houses of Parliament.

Sadly, all too many people remember this historic date in our country's calendar for the wrong reason. They end what should have been an enjoyable evening at a fireworks party in the accident and emergency department of their local hospital, the victims of burns and sometimes far worse injuries.

Last year, nearly 1,000 people, children among them, were treated after unexpected ends to their Bonfire Night celebrations.

The news that over the weekend retired Worcester veterinary surgeon Robin Walker had a rocket smash through his conservatory roof serves as a frightening example of just how dangerous a firework can be.

Luckily, no one was in the room at the time, but the outcome might have been oh so very different.

Sky rockets are the cause of most firework injuries. It stands to reason... because what goes up must come down. Increasingly, people want to set off fireworks at the drop of any kind of celebration and even just for fun. It's all done so nonchalantly and without regard to any kind of consequence.

How many times does it have to be spelled out that fireworks may be pretty, but they are also dangerous. By their very nature they explode and when the human body gets in the way the result can be catastrophic.

The intention of Guy Fawkes and his plotters was to blow people up.

They may have failed in 1605, but 400 years later the carnage they intended lives on.