"We studied video footage and conducted controlled burns on the blue touch paper, which told us how quickly it ignited," said divisional officer Kenny Moran.

Moran said that during transportation of the paper via fork lift truck, the metallic strings used to keep the bails of paper together had caused sparks when in contact with the ground.

"The paper reacted instantly and the development of the fire was particularly fierce," said Moran, who remarked that the forklift driver was lucky to escape with his life.

Smith Anderson chief executive Brian Henry said the blue touch paper, found in fireworks, was coated with Potassium Nitrate, a slow-burning chemical, which had reacted instantly to the sparks and ignited.

Henry said the company would be making its findings available to both the Paper Federation and the industry as a whole.

Moran said he hoped that there was no more blue touch paper available in the UK, due to the fact that almost all fireworks were now manufactured outside of the country.

"If there is, I urge those that have it to get rid of it to prevent any incidents like the blaze at Smith Anderson," he said.

Story by Andy Scott