A giant Spiderman ornament was left with a rocket protruding from its bottom after a rogue firework left a saucepan size hole in its backside.

Worried pensioners were shocked when the projectile flew into their garden, narrowly missing an aviary housing about 30 birds, and their home.

Barry Spears, of Rickstones Road, Witham, said the item was found lodged inside the unusual ornament on New Year’s Day.

The 74-year-old has issued a warning about the dangers of setting of fireworks in residential areas.

He said: “If that had happened on my porch it could have blown my house up.

“That could have been a child sitting there or one of us.

“Just imagine you were standing there and it hit you, it doesn’t bear thinking about.

“We have had little ones before that have done no damage, but the stick on this one must be three foot long.

“It’s made a hole as big as a saucepan and it probably blew up inside.

“When they have the big displays they cater for that where there is plenty of space and no houses.”

Mr Spears has lived in his house for 43 years with his wife Jean, 68.

They have had several smaller fireworks land in their garden in that time, but none this size.

He added: “This was a really heavy one, it’s not just a tiny one. The new fireworks are bigger today than they ever were before. I shall probably repair it, but that’s not the point.”