Margate residents trapped in homes after fireworks launched at windows and cars in Union Row
15:56, 08 November 2021
updated: 16:25, 08 November 2021
A woman has told how people were trapped in their homes for almost two hours after a pair of reckless yobs launched fireworks at windows and cars.
The explosives were aimed horizontally in Union Row, Margate - bouncing off buildings and forcing pedestrians to flee the area.
Fireworks launched in Margate street
Vehicles were also forced to make U-turns as the fireworks were seen hurtling down the road towards motorists.
The illuminations were set off in the middle of the road and on the pavement.
One video shows the fireworks bouncing off buildings and whistling down the street before exploding.
Another shows them being recklessly launched metres away from a residential complex.
Andrina Clarke, 22, says the drama started at about 8pm on Saturday, when the fireworks were fired at her window.
"It was a nightmare that night," she told KentOnline.
"They set off fireworks in the road. Obviously these people aren’t professionals so they weren’t setting them up properly and were just firing at people’s houses, windows, cars and lampposts - you name it. (They were) going everywhere.
"It was crazy and it was a right hoo-ha that night."
Ms Clarke, who has lived in the area for almost three years, says the explosives were launched for almost two hours before police arrived as the situation "started getting badly out of hand".
"Pedestrians were walking up the road and they got about halfway up then realised fireworks were shooting down the road," she added.
"They had to do a quick little walk down the road because they didn’t want to get hit.
"Cars were coming down one side of the road and they had to reverse back out because they were putting themselves in danger.
"If a firework was to hit the car, god forbid what would have happened."
Ms Clarke added nobody could leave their homes for almost two hours as the explosives hurled down the street.
She said the incident was "unsettling" and "shook her up" when the fireworks were aimed at her window.
A police spokesman said officers were called at 9.20pm on Saturday to concerns around fireworks in Union Row, Margate.
"Officers attended and words of advice were given to two people around the safe use of fireworks," they said.
To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here
