British Firework Championships: What you need to know

The British Firework Championships is returning for another year in Plymouth with six pyrotechnic companies battling it out for the title.

Since they were launched in 1997, the championships have become a signature event both for the UK firework industry and Plymouth, attracting global media coverage and visitors from as far afield as Australia.

Organisers have urged those hoping to watch the displays, to plan travel arrangements ahead of time, as well as check any access information.

Here is a guide to the timings, transport and other useful information about the two-night event.

The event takes place in the city on Wednesday and Thursday, with three firework companies competing each day at 21:30 BST, 21:50 and 22:10.

A number of attractions as well as food stalls will be open from 17:00 on both nights.

People have been urged to travel early, with crowds in excess of 35,000 people expected to attend each day.

The fireworks will be fired from Mountbatten Breakwater, meaning the shows will be visable from the Hoe, a boat or any of the many viewing points around Plymouth Sound.

There are numerous ways to travel to the event by both public transport and personal vehicles.

GWR has confirmed extra services will be put on for both evenings, with services at 23:10 to Penzance, 23:14 to Gunnislake and 23:34 to Exeter St David's (calling at Ivybridge, Totnes and Newton Abbot). There will also be a 23:45 service to Exeter St David's (calling at Totnes and Newton Abbot).

As for coach travel, the Stagecoach Falcon service connects Plymouth with Exeter, Taunton, Bristol Airport and Bristol City Centre.

National Express also operates daily coach services to Plymouth from departure points across the UK, alongside Flixbus which operates a five-day a week service.

All visitors arriving by car are being encouraged to use Plymouth's Park and Ride services, which provide a direct service to Royal Parade.

Plymouth CityBus also operates in the city, with children under the age of 16 travelling by bus for free throughout August due to the Great British Summer of Savings campaign.

Numerous road closures are set to be in place across the town and towards the waterfront.

Plymouth City Council has released a map detailing where and when those will be enforced.

People have been urged to consider the environment and travel to the event using sustainable travel arrangements, such as public transport and Plymouth Beryl Bikes.

The impacted roads are (closures are on 12 and 13 August unless otherwise stated):

• Armada Way between Princess Street and Guildhall Square car park 22:00 – 23:00
• Hoe Road between Citadel Mound and Pier Street junction 15:00 - 23:00
• Madeira Road. 15:00 - 23:00
• Armada Way Loop between Crowne Plaza and Citadel Road junction 16:00 - 23:00
• Osborne Place 07:00 - 23:00
• Lockyer Street between Citadel Road junction and Notte Street junction 22:00 - 23:00
• Notte Street between Millbay Road junction and Hoe approach junction 22:00 - 23:00
• Staddon Land between Staddon Heights Golf Club and Jennycliff Lane 16:00 - 23:00
• Jennycliff Lane between Staddon Lane juncion and Church Hill Road junction 16:00 - 23:00
• Lawrence Road 07:00 on 12 August until 12:00 on 14 August
• Princess Street between Lockyer Street junction and Princess Ope junction 22:00 - 23:00
• Tapson Drive 16:00 - 23:00
• Durwent Close 16:00 - 23:00
• Cunliffe Avenue 16:00 - 23:00

There are six participants in this years event, with teams from across the country competing.

The winning team for the British Firework Championships will be crowned at the awards ceremony after the fireworks have finished on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the competing companies are:

• Electrify Pyrotechnics

• Smart Pyrotechnics Ltd

• G2 Fireworks

On Thursday, the competing companies are:

• Nemisis Pyrotechnics Ltd

• AJ Pyrotechnics Ltd

• The Fireworkers Ltd

Two judging panels are involved in deciding the outcome of the competition, one made up of professionals from the world of pyrotechnics and the other a judging panel drawn from across the city.

There is also a panel local care-experienced children and young people who give their own Young People's Choice Award.

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