Published at 15:48, Wednesday, 27 February 2013

A LAKE District firm has secured a place in a prestigious pyrotechnic extravaganza.

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Broughton-based Pyroartistry has been selected as one of a handful of firms to take part in the British Musical Fireworks Championships at Southport, Merseyside, this year.

The three-day event from October 4 to October 6 will see thousands of fireworks set off to music as companies battle to capture the crown.

Time is tight and the competitors are set for a challenge with an 11-hour limit to set up the display, before battling to impress judges.

Trevor Stride, director of Pyroartistry, said: “This is one of the two biggest events in the country and it’s a bit of an honour to be selected.

“It’s a big show and it might use around £12,000 in fireworks.

“The display will take some planning. “There’s two things to think about – firstly, how good are you as an artist and secondly, can you match them to music?”

The firm has been running for around 14 years and Mr Stride says planning his entry for the competition is going to be one of the biggest professional challenges of his career. Pyroartistry’s display will feature on the first day of the championships.

A regular at weddings, corporate events and festivals, Mr Stride said that, despite the peak for some firework display artists being in November, he does good business all year round, though from January to March is somewhat quieter.

He said: “The smaller shows can be a one-man job but for bigger events you might have two people.

“One thing about competitions like this is having something that makes people go ‘ooh’ but the other thing is longevity. You have to have the logistics and skills to ensure the display keeps people’s attention.

“We’ll have 11 hours to set up, so it’s a tall order.

“The most important thing is to be a good artist.”

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk