Firm's competition bid goes with a bang

10:30am Tuesday 19th August 2008

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A CWMBRAN fireworks company lit up the sky to claim victory at the British Firework Championships 2008.

Pendragon Fireworks beat off competition from five other teams from across Britain to be announced British Firework Champions at the event held in Plymouth last week.

An experienced team of 12 men and women worked more than 50 hours a week planning the ten-minute colourful display, which included an 11m by 30m firework arch and a smiley face display.

The display was operated electronically by computer and used thousands of fireworks to create the overall effect.

The group will now go forward to compete in the Champion of Champions event to be held in Plymouth in 2012.

John Mellen, 40, who runs the company said: “We are all elated, the team are still all as high as kites, for us it was like winning an Olympic gold.”

Mr Mellen dedicated the win to his father Raymond Mellen, 86, of Cwmbran, who died on Saturday after losing his battle with cancer.