THE boss of a fireworks shop who lost 90 per cent of his stock in a burglary has vowed to bounce back.

Chives Farrance says customers will still be able to stock up on rockets, bangers and other fireworks ahead of this weekend's Bonfire Night.

Managing director Mr Farrance was greeted with smashed windows, broken doors and a near-empty stock room when he opened up Rocket Man, in East Reach, Taunton, on Saturday morning.

Somerset County Gazette:

He said: "The place had been ransacked - the rear windows had been smashed and doors had been jemmied open with a crow bar.

"The door of the room where I stock all the fireworks was broken down and most of my rockets missing.

"They left the cardboard boxes the fireworks came in and put the fireworks into my black plastic bags.

"They value of the fireworks they stole runs into thousands."

Mr Farrance, who closed the shop over what would have been his busiest weekend of the year, has since installed "overkill" security, with a new fire door and heavy duty locks and has ordered new stock.

He added: "I'd have expected to take £1,000 on Saturday and Sunday. This time of year is a massive part of our sales.

"When I saw the devastation, I was frustrated and angry and asked myself why I bother.

"But my message to customers is, 'Don't be put off - we're bouncing back and we'll have plenty of fireworks for this weekend'."

Somerset County Gazette:

Mr Farrance, who runs another shop in Bridgwater and is organising a fireworks display at Clarks Village on Saturday, has been in Taunton six years.

He said he will remain open until the end of the year before considering his future in the county town, where he opened a week before the M5 accident at Taunton, in which seven people died and 51 were injured in a multiple vehicle pile-up.

The crash coincided with a fireworks display at Taunton Rugby Club, although a coroner later ruled that was not the cause of the tragedy.

"But I think it's made the people of Taunton scared of fireworks, whereas in Bridgwater the shop is doing really well," said Mr Farrance.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: "We're investigating following a burglary at a shop in Taunton on Saturday.

"Entry was forced and cash and fireworks were stolen in the incident.

"As part of our inquiry, we're reviewing CCTV and specialist crime scene investigators have examined the scene.

"Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has been offered cheap fireworks for sale, is asked to phone 101 and provide the call handler with the reference 5217246198."