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World Fireworks Championships, Blackpool

Tourism bosses in Blackpool have today announced a line up of International Master Blasters in the return of World Fireworks Championships to the UK's Number One Resort.

The four countries invited by the Mayor of Blackpool, Cllr Robert Wynne, to compete in the World Fireworks Championships Blackpool this September are Portugal, Canada, United Kingdom and Austria.

Top international firework experts will represent their homeland by staging stunning pyrotechnical displays in the skies above Blackpool's Central Beach during September which will showcase the artistry of their pyrotechnical team, and the innovation of their fireworks designers.

The opening event is on Sunday 2 September, with further displays every Friday in September. Each heat of the competition is free to view, and the fireworks will be launched from North Pier, ensuring plenty of space to view each spectacle from Blackpool's Central Promenade.

The companies chosen to represent their countries are:

Pirotecnia Minhota will open the competition representing their homeland Portugal, on Sunday 2 September

On Friday 7 September, it is the turn of Canadian Company DW Fireworks

Jubilee Fireworks will fly the Union flag for the UK on Friday 14 September

The fourth competitors, Design Fireworks, will travel from Austria with an explosively original show on Friday 21 September.

British Pyrotechnical experts from Kimbolton Fireworks, will mark the close of the competition with a celebratory performance on Friday 28 September, during which the winner of the competition will be announced.

Cllr Mrs Maxine Callow, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Regeneration said:

"Fireworks are always extremely popular in Blackpool, with last years' displays drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators to the Promenade during the course of the competition.''

Each competing company must design and launch a display to impress the public and the judging panel by expertly combining cutting edge pyro-musical design with their chosen piece of music. Entrants must launch fireworks particular to their homeland and showcase their own pyrotechnical expertise, to win the title.

The dazzling event returned to Blackpool in a blaze of glory last year with eventual winners, French team Pyrozone.

Visitors to the event will be given the opportunity to vote for their favourite display by texting the word 'Firework' to 60600. Open for 48 hours after each event, texts will be charged at the voters standard network rate.

Click here to find out more about the Blackpool Illuminations!