A moment of carelessness with fireworks could lead to “problems for a lifetime”, one of the north’s top plastic surgeons has warned Halloween.

Mr Alastair Brown, consultant plastic surgeon Ulster HospitalHe said he sees fireworks-related injuries every year around the Halloween season, and many of them are “life-changing” for the victims.

He urged people to be aware of the dangers of using fireworks, including sparklers, and stressed that they should never be treated as “toys”.

“They may look flashy with their packaging, but they are dangerous explosives and should be treated as such,” he said.

“Even sparklers can cause serious injuries; they burn at very high temperatures. Clothing can catch fire, causing serious burns.”

Mr Brown has worked in Ulster Hospital’s plastic surgery unit for more than 10 years and said the majority of fireworks injuries were to the hands and face.

Warnings come after a while A 12-year-old West Belfast boy was struck in the face by a firework earlier this monthIt required an emergency operation around the eye.

“The people we see every year have life-changing injuries,” he said.

“Firework injuries can cause severe scarring to areas such as the face or damage to the hands, affecting the way you work, socialize and live. Patients may require years of surgery and treatment, and often this can only partially correct the damage caused. In the most extreme cases, injuries can be life-threatening “and may even lead to blindness.”

Mr Brown said anyone using fireworks should “treat them with the utmost respect”.

“The majority of injuries caused by fireworks that we see are preventable and result from careless or improper use,” he added.

“Never let your guard down when using fireworks; Follow instructions and fireworks rules. “A moment of inattention can cause a lifetime of problems for you or someone else.”