Motorists were left counting the costs of a fireworks display after their vehicles were showered with fine specks of black dust, which in some cases caused permanent damage to the paintwork.

The incident happened on the night of July 25, when petards were let off from the outskirts of Ħamrun on the occasion of the feast in nearby Santa Venera.

The close proximity of the let-off point to the St Venera bypass had prompted the temporary closure of this arterial road as a precautionary measure.

But cars parked nearby were still exposed. A police spokeswoman confirmed that the following day, several reports were filed at the Ħamrun police station by vehicle owners who found their car covered in tiny white spots, with a black fragment in the middle.

According to these reports, the spots left a permanent mark on the paintwork.

Read more in the Times of Malta.