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Fireworks set off near Birkenhead Tunnel hours after wildfire emergency alert

A group of youths set off fireworks near the entrance to the Birkenhead Tunnel on Friday night, just hours after millions of people received an emergency alert warning of very high wildfire risk across England and Wales.

Birkenhead Tunnel.
The fireworks were set off near the Birkenhead Tunnnel entrance.

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Fireworks were set off by a group of young people near the entrance to the Birkenhead Tunnel on 14 June, just hours after the UK government sent out a nationwide alert against potential wildfires.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Merseyside Police were called to the area after reports of fireworks being set off. One witness said the group had been setting fireworks off for around ten minutes before leaving the area around 10:10 pm when police arrived.

Officers remained at the scene to check for any embers before later leaving the area.

The incident had bad timing, as it came just three hours after the government's 7 pm mobile phone alert that warned of a "very high risk of wildfires nationally".

The alert urged people not to do anything that could start a fire, like using disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators, or letting off fireworks.

It stated: "Even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire, placing lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk."

People were urged to report any signs of fire immediately by calling 999.

The warning comes at a particularly bad time, as firefighters are continuing to fight against wildfires across South Wales, Cambridgeshire, and the West Midlands. More than 1,000 wildfires have been recorded so far this year!

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a ban on disposable barbecues amid the heightened fire risk.

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