A 10-year-old boy may have to have his right hand amputated after a homemade firework exploded as he was holding it.

The youngster, who has already lost four fingers from his right hand, remained in the Ulster Hospital today where doctors battled to save his hand.

Police refused to be drawn on claims that the firework was a homemade device, but confirmed they are investigating the incident, as a leading safety organisation warned parents about the dangers of fireworks as Halloween approaches.

Roger Vincent, spokesman with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “This is dreadful for the child involved and for his entire family. He is going to have this for the rest of his life.

“With Halloween coming up, this serves as a reminder of how dangerous fireworks can be. They are explosives and should be treated with care.

“It is also important that fireworks, even ones bought from a legitimate source, do not fall into the hands of children.”

Banbridge councillor Carol Black, who knows the family who come from the Dromore area, also urged adults to do their best to educate children to treat fireworks with respect.

She said: “I know this morning he is undergoing surgery and it is a matter of waiting to see if that will take.

“Honestly, we have a little 10-year-old boy, with all the excitement of Halloween and they don’t think of the dangers. They think of the excitement and the scary things and all that goes with Halloween.

“I understand that this was a homemade firework and what is so annoying is that an immature person was actually making them and selling them with a total lack of responsibility. What is even more worrying is that you can get the makings of these fireworks on the internet.

“I personally know this family and I can tell you that I feel the devastation and the hurt from the whole family, which is suffering from one moment. This boy has a whole life time to deal with this, both the physical and mental effects.”

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “At this stage police cannot confirm if the firework was illegal. Investigations are continuing and police are following a number of lines of inquiry.”