A father was nearly blinded after a box of fireworks exploded in his face.

Lee George, 26, had a lucky escape after the container holding 50 fireworks blew up at a garden display with family and friends.

The father-of-two is now warning of the dangers of fireworks and has vowed never to light another.

He said: "I won’t light another one again and I won’t have the kids around them."

The 26-year-old had gone to a friend's house in Maidstone yesterday evening for a Guy Fawkes night celebration with partner Jo Rimell, 23, and their sons, six-year-old Billy and Georgie-Lee, three.

The night was running smoothly until Mr George, from Gravesend, lit the £20 box but nothing happened except a puff of smoke.

A few seconds later the box exploded, knocking Lee to the ground.

Two fireworks hit him in the head, causing a deep gash and burns to his face.

Mr George said: "I went to walk away to light some other fireworks. I was about 10ft away when the box exploded. Two fireworks hit me in the face. It all happened so quick."

At Maidstone Hospital the 26-year-old was told by a nurse had he been burnt 3cm lower down, he would have lost his eye.

Mr George escaped with stitches and a minor burn to his face but was warned the wound would scar.

Girlfriend Jo said: "If it managed to knock a 15 stone man off his feet, imagine what it could have done to a little child. He was covered in blood. It took hospital staff ages to clean him up. He was very lucky it wasn’t more serious."