International Competitors Announced

Tourism bosses in Blackpool have today announced a line up of International Master Blasters in the return of World Fireworks Championships to the UK's Number One Resort.

The four countries invited by the Mayor of Blackpool, Cllr Robert Wynne, to compete in the World Fireworks Championships Blackpool this September are Portugal, Canada, United Kingdom and Austria.

Top international firework experts will represent their homeland by staging stunning pyrotechnical displays in the skies above Blackpool's Central Beach during September which will showcase the artistry of their pyrotechnical team, and the innovation of their fireworks designers.

The opening event is on Sunday 2 September, with further displays every Friday in September. Each heat of the competition is free to view, and the fireworks will be launched from North Pier, ensuring plenty of space to view each spectacle from Blackpool's Central Promenade.

Each week the international teams will be joined by a different presenter from 105.4 Century FM who will host the evening's entertainment in the build up to the big blast off.

The companies chosen to represent their countries are:

Pirotecnia Minhota will open the competition representing their homeland Portugal, on Sunday 2 September, as part of the Blackpool Illuminations 'Big Switch On Weekend' celebrations.

On Friday 7 September, it is the turn of Canadian Company DW Fireworks to dazzle the crowds and set the skies ablaze.

Jubilee Fireworks will fly the Union flag for the UK on Friday 14 September, as they attempt to outshine their opponents in a glittering display. This outstanding British Team were crowned 'Champion of Champions' in the 2006 National Fireworks Championships.

The fourth competitors, Design Fireworks, will travel from Austria to stake their claim on the title, with an explosively original show on Friday 21 September.

British Pyrotechnical experts from Kimbolton Fireworks, who have created displays for many prestigious events including the celebration of the hand over of Hong Kong to China, will mark the close of the competition with a celebratory performance on Friday 28 September, during which the winner of the competition will be announced.

Cllr Mrs Maxine Callow, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Regeneration said:

Fireworks are always extremely popular in Blackpool, with last years' displays drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators to the Promenade during the course of the competition.

We are delighted to have four extremely talented companies accept our invitation to compete for the 2007 title, and look forward to enjoying the results of their hard work and expertise.

Each competing company must design and launch a display to impress the public and the judging panel by expertly combining cutting edge pyro-musical design with their chosen piece of music. Entrants must launch fireworks particular to their homeland and showcase their own pyrotechnical expertise, to win the title.

The dazzling event returned to Blackpool in a blaze of glory last year, drawing huge crowds to the resort's Promenade each week. The eventual winners, decided jointly by public text voting and a panel of expert judges were French team Pyrozone.

VisitBlackpool would like you to tell us who produced the best display. Visitors to the event will be given the opportunity to vote for their favourite display by texting the word 'Firework' to 60600. This voting service, courtesy of O2, will be open for 48 hours after each event, and texts will be charged at the voters standard network rate.