Two fireworks aficionados yesterday had their licences temporarily suspended by a Gozo court, after the discovery on Friday of about a kilo of combustible powder in a Victoria garage.

George Attard, 37, and Emmanuel Buhagiar, 34, from Victoria, pleaded not guilty to a number of charges related to the illegal production, importation, retention and carrying of fireworks.

The two men, cousins, were granted bail under several conditions, with the court also ordering the suspension of their fireworks licence during the course of the proceedings.

On Friday night, the police found about a kilo of what they described as “explosive powder” in a garage-turned workshop owned by the La Stella Philharmonic Society.

The garage, on Giuseppe Giardini Street, lies underneath the popular Gozitan nightclub Ku club and the Astra Theatre.

The Sunday Times of Malta yesterday reported that Paul Cassar, the president of the La Stella band club, insisted that no fireworks were being produced in the garage and that the two men were simply storing powder there.

He said the two used the garage to prepare the outer casings for fireworks, which they would then fill in a licensed fireworks factory in Malta.

In a statement issued yesterday morning, the La Stella Philharmonic Society unconditionally condemned the “isolated, irresponsible act” and said it had suspended the two men from the club.