Residents have spoken out about a growing “yob” culture in the town.
06:05, 12 Apr 2026
The spot where the firework ignited the curtains, narrowly missing the side of the bed where the resident’s partner usually sleeps.(Image: Supplied)
A Loughborough woman has told of her horror after a firework was launched through her bedroom window and ignited her curtains while she lay in bed.
The resident, who lives at Highland Court in Fennel Street, was forced to scramble for pans of water to douse the flames, later warning: “We could have died if we were sleeping.”
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, was resting due to illness at around 6pm on Easter Monday (April 6) when the firework was hurled into her room.
She has since warned that the incident could easily have killed someone.
“I thought somebody had been hit by a car,” she said. “I turned my head, saw flickering lights and then realised what it was.”
It took three pans of water to douse the blaze, which was burning behind the exact spot where her partner usually sleeps, also charring the windowsill.
The burnt windowsill at the Highland Court property after a firework was launched through the bedroom window.(Image: Supplied)
“Luckily, the curtain was closed. The firework went down the back of the bed and caught fire,” she said.
“I ran to the kitchen to get water. It was pure luck [that] my partner was not in, as it’s on their side of the bed. If they were in bed, they would have caught fire. It would have been awful.”
She described hearing the group who threw the firework laughing as they fled.
“These kids need to know it’s not harmless. What if there was a cot there, or if it was an elderly person? I heard them laugh, but somebody could have been killed. We could have died if we were sleeping.”
A view of Highland Court on Fennel Street, where a resident was forced to douse a fire with three pans of water.(Image: Dylan Hayward)
Leicestershire Police have confirmed no arrests have been made following the incident.
A force spokesperson said: “A report that a firework had been thrown through the bedroom window of a flat was received just after 6pm on Monday (April 6). The occupant of the flat put the fire out, and no injuries were reported.
“An investigation into the incident is continuing and no arrests have been made at this time. We would ask anyone with information to contact police, quoting reference 26*196451.”
The incident sparked a debate among residents in the nearby Southfield Park area, where views on anti-social behaviour in the community were sharply divided.
Jean, 72, has lived in the area since 1983 and said she remained untroubled by what had happened, describing the neighbourhood as a pleasant place to live. She said she had no plans to change her habits as a result of the incident.
“Anti-social behaviour is minimal,” she said. “It’s a nice area to live. I will still keep my windows open. I think it’s a one-off.”
Paul Blake, 77 has lived in Loughborough all his life. He said that the youth seemed to generally behave(Image: Dylan Hayward)
Paul Blake, 77, has lived in the area his entire life and said anti-social behaviour had only become an issue recently. He said he remained relaxed about the neighbourhood despite the incident.
He said: “[The issues have] only been a problem of late. It’s an ok area, the kids seem to be behaving [on a whole].”
Tom Summers, 34, said he had not noticed anti-social behaviour as a problem in the area where he lived.
He added that his household’s routines meant the incident had not prompted any change in how they went about their day.
He said: “Anti-social behaviour isn’t an issue I’ve noticed. I’ve got teenagers at home who sleep in the day, so the windows are closed anyway.”
Tom Summers, 34, says he hasn’t personally noticed an increase in anti-social behaviour(Image: Dylan Hayward)
Jenny Bunker, 46, who lives a minute down the road, said the wider area painted a more troubling picture, pointing to problems in the local park and cemetery.
She said she hoped the incident was an isolated act of stupidity rather than something more sinister.
“It’s a terrible incident, hopefully it’s kids being idiots,” she said. “ASB is in the park and cemetery — there’s drug taking and that sort of thing. People have found needles in gardens.”
Jason Hull, 44, has run Fennel Street Barbers for four years and described the street as typically quiet. He said the images of the damage had left him shocked and that he would be taking precautions for the time being.
Local barber Jason Hull says he will be closing his windows for a while following the Easter Monday attack.(Image: Dylan Hayward)
“It’s very quiet around here. We have some issues with drug addicts in the park, but I haven’t seen any anti-social behaviour. It’s shocking to see the pictures. I will be closing my windows for a bit.”
The woman and her partner had lived at the property for ten months without trouble before Easter Monday.
“We could have died if we were sleeping,” she said.
Anyone with information should call Leicestershire Police on 101, quoting crime reference number 26*196451. Alternatively, report information on the force’s website.
