Late-night explosion heard in Tipton was firework fired in street

Speculation was rife on social media as to what caused the bang, which was reportedly heard as much as three miles away from where the firework was set off in Tipton.

However police have confirmed that the bang was in fact a firework set off in Griffiths Street.

Officers were called to the residential street just after midnight, where they found a car had been damaged by the firework but nobody was injured.

Numerous people reported hearing the explosion in nearby Dudley Port and Tividale, while one person claimed to have heard it in Wolverhampton.

Ryan Barrows posted on Facebook saying: "I thought my neighbours' house had blown up... Never heard anything like it in my life. Massive flash of light, I looked outside and the street was full of smoke."

Another resident posted: "Yes I heard it too, sounded like a sonic boom."

While Bal Kallah said: "I heard it too. Central Tipton / Tipton Green area. About 12.15am. Made me jump up out of bed. Looked out of the windows. Thought we saw some smoke but not sure. Then did hear sirens but they seemed to be further away. Anyone know what it was?"

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We were called to reports of a loud explosion in Tipton at just before 12.20am this morning.

"Officers went to investigate, and found that a firework had been set off in Griffiths Street.

"A car was damaged, but nobody was injured."