It should have been a spectacular cacophony of light and noise as 115,000 rockets exploded above St Aubin’s Bay, Jersey. But only days before a planned attempt to break the world record for the largest firework launch, Terry McDonald said that he had been forced to cancel the event after concerns about damage to the environment.

Mr McDonald is preparing to sue the island’s government as the bill for his thwarted record attempt approaches £50,000.

Instead of seeing the rockets disappear during ten seconds of fire and smoke, the former policeman now spends each night sleeping beside the six tonnes of high explosives to ensure they remain safe. Next week marks the first anniversary of his nightly stay in a caravan beside two 20ft containers of fireworks in a secret location on the island. His fiancée, Jean Hamon, waits patiently at home.

Mr McDonald, 58, first broke the world record in 1997 with the launch of 39,210 rockets to raise funds for the BBC Children in Need appeal during Jersey’s Battle of Flowers festival. “It can be best described as awesome,” he recalled.

The record stood until 2006 and last year Mr McDonald was persuaded to attempt to recapture his title. He bought 125,000 rockets and drew up plans for the fireworks to be launched along three quarters of a mile of beach. The island’s government gave its approval after a health and safety review involving the emergency services, and the Economic Development Department agreed to provide £20,000 sponsorship.

A small army of volunteers was recruited to clear the beach in the six hours between the display and the next high tide and provide security and facilities for spectators. Inmates at the island’s jail helped to make the special firing tables.

Preparations would have included a test firing of 5,000 rockets in the afternoon before the world record attempt and a further 5,000 to allow the media to test their camera position. Then at exactly 10pm the final 115,000 would be fired.

Mr McDonald is well known on the island and was a member of its police force from 1969 to 1991. In 1972 he was appointed assistant bomb disposal officer, trained to clear all types of explosives and tackled dozens of devices left from the Second World War. Over the past 40 years he has organised many big fireworks events in the Channel Islands, including displays watched by the Queen and the Princess Royal, and in 1989 hosted the International Pyrotechnics Seminar. But only days before the world record attempt Jersey’s environment department warned Mr McDonald that he could be prosecuted if the display caused any environmental damage.

“All fireworks contain a cocktail of potentially harmful chemicals,” it said. “In addition, the physical litter caused by the 111,000 spent rockets could seriously affect the amenity of the beach if not removed.”

Mr McDonald, who is divorced and has one daughter, said that the threat of prosecution and possible civil action meant he had no choice but to cancel the event. The insurance on the fireworks runs out on Thursday. “I still hope that the government will see the light, pay the bill and that would be end of it,” he said. So far the Jersey authorities have offered the services of the island’s current bomb-disposal expert to destroy the fireworks.

Mr McDonald has won the backing of the man who currently holds the launch world record. Ron Lowry fired 56,649 rockets during the British Fireworks Championships in Plymouth. Dr Lowry, an environmental scientist at the University of Plymouth, said: “I had flown over to Jersey to see the display and I wished Terry had just gone ahead and pushed the button.”

Dr Lowry, who teaches environmental science, marine biology, chemical oceanography and chemistry, said there was no evidence that the firework display would harm the environment. “Terry has made the rockets as environmentally friendly as possible,” he said.

Freddie Cohen, Jersey’s minister for planning and environment, said yesterday that he had supported the record attempt and his department had provided advice on mitigating the environmental impact rather than banning the event.

Lighting up the sky

— The world’s biggest display – which took place on December 31, 2006, in Madeira – included 66,326 separate fireworks.

— The annual new year display in Sydney has gained an international reputation as one of the most impressive. Set around the harbour bridge, it can be seen 65km (40 miles) away and attracts more than a million spectators.

— Macy’s department store in New York hosts America’s largest annual display, on Independence Day.

— In the past five years more than 350 preschool children in Britain have been admitted to hospital with firework-related injuries.

— A “River of Fire”, part of the millennium celebrations in London, was supposed to speed along the Thames from Tower Bridge to Vauxhall Bridge in less than 11 seconds. Bob Geldof, chairman of the organising committee, dubbed the event a success, even though the fireworks did not appear to ignite in the correct sequence or time.

— The world record for the most rockets launched in 30 seconds is 56,405. The event was organised by Roy Lowry for the British Firework Championship in Plymouth two years ago.

Sources: Macy’s, 10 Alps, cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au, Guinness World Records, DERR

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