Shortest unintentional firework display

The fireworks display held on 21 August 2009 at Dorset Festival, UK, was set up as a world record attempt but ended quickly and unexpectedly. With a total of 110,000 fireworks mounted on a barge between two piers in the English Channel, the display was planned as a carefully choreographed bonanza. Instead, the initial rocket launches set fire to the entire barge full of fireworks, which exploded and burned brightly for just six seconds.

According to BBC reports, one of the 175,000 spectators – Lesley Maya (from Poole) – said: "It was rubbish. It was just a fire in the sea." Another onlooker, Wayne Freemantle (also from Poole), stated: "It's just a waste of time. I wish I'd stayed at home instead."