LEARN from my mistake.

That is the stark warning from16-year-old Stuart Hamilton who had his right hand blown off by a firework last year.

He now has a metal hook in place of the hand, and hopes his story will act as a deterrent to other youngsters in the run-up to November 5.

The teenager, from Green Street, Bury, was with friends in the grounds of Elton High School on the night of November 1 when he picked up what he thought was a burnt-out rocket.

As it began to spark he tried to throw it away, but the firework exploded and blew off his fingers and tore into his chest. Thirteen windows in the school were broken in the incident.

Stuart was taken to Fairfield Hospital and transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital where he stayed for ten days.

Although he has made a good recovery, he has endured countless skin grafts and operations, and travels to and from the limb centre at Wythenshawe, where specialists have created aids to make his life a little easier.

A rubber "gauntlet" fits over his wrist, and implements, such as cutlery, can be slotted into it. Recalling that fateful night, Stuart said: "I was bored and I must admit it wasn't the first time I had played with fireworks. You hear the warnings but you never think it will happen to you.

"It hit my family and friends hard, and even though they have all been so supportive, they were really upset and stressed by it. I would never wish this on anyone but it's hard to get the message across to young people."

His mother, Margaret, said: "Life was very difficult for Stuart when he returned to school: things like tucking his shirt in, putting his tie on and carrying equipment to his classroom."

Stuart has just undergone an operation to replace one of his eardrums after both were severely damaged by the explosion. He has learnt to lip read since the accident.

Stuart returned to school ten weeks after the accident to sit six GCSEs and has now started a plastering course at Bolton College.

He has had a plastering aid made to hold the mortar board, working with his left hand.

Stuart is also working with the fire service in Greater Manchester to help educate others. He said: "If I could talk to them, I'd tell young people I knew a teenager who played with a firework and it blew his hand off, and knocked his family for six.

"I'd say I know how bad it was because the teenager is me. I'd then take my rubber hand off and show them my injury."