Fan hit in face by firework at Wolves match

A pre-match display at Wolves' Premiership match with Newcastle United went disastrously wrong when a firework misfired straight into the crowd and struck a female fan in the face.

The woman, who was sitting behind the Wolves dugout, was hit just below the eye and taken to hospital with a suspected fractured cheek bone. Seven other spectators received first aid at the scene.

The firework had been part of a line of devices planted in the centre circle. The others all exploded straight up into the air as planned.

Wolves immediately issued a statement expressing the club's regret and promising a full investigation into what went wrong.

"We are deeply sorry for the incident that occured at Molineux ahead of this afternoon's match," the statement said.

"A full investigation has been launched into exactly what happened."

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We attended the scene shortly after 12.30pm and have taken one patient to hospital with injuries which are not thought to be serious. Seven other people required medical attention at the scene."