TWO teenagers received hospital treatment last night after setting off a pyrotechnic device found in a city street.
Neither of the youths, aged about 17, was seriously hurt in the incident, in the Pallion area of Sunderland.
But police are concerned how a display firework, supposed to be available for use only at organised events, came to be lying in the street.
Officers were trying to trace the source of the device last night.
The two youths found the small circular object, complete with a fuse, lying in the road in Deptford Terrace.
They kicked it around before lighting it, causing an explosion.
Both suffered facial injuries, and one of the pair received burns to his hands.
Deptford Terrace was closed by police but reopened after a sweep of the area to ensure there were no similar devices in the vicinity.
Chief Inspector John Brady said the youths were shaken by the ordeal, but their injuries were not serious.
He said: "One has a hand injury which is not as serious as was first thought.
"This device was definitely not a hand grenade. It is available in the fireworks industry, but not usually to members of the public.
"We are still inquiring where it came from, although it may have been from this tip nearby. It may even have been from a firework which has gone off, although this device has failed to detonate."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0191-415 7555.
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