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 white spots left by fragments which fell on cars parked some distance from the display. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

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.

“On Sunday morning, I found my car, which was parked at 7th June Square in Ħamrun, covered in white specks, some of which could not be removed,” an irate car owner told the Times of Malta.

“Somebody has to shoulder responsibility for this, as I might lose the no claim bonus if I seek compensation from my motor insurance,” he added.

Though the let-off point was some 450 metres away, which is more than double the minimum distance set by law, it is believed that hot fragments could have been borne by the strong wind of the night before.

A quick look at the weather report on July 25 revealed the wind was blowing from the northwest at about 11 knots, which is equivalent to Force 4 on the beaufort scale. As a matter of fact a number Ħamrun residents complained that they had to shut all their windows, as at one point part of the locality close to Marsa was engulfed in thick smoke.

This newspaper tried to contact officials from Għaqda 26 ta’ Lulju, which takes care of this fireworks display, but no feedback was received.

With the opening of Mater Dei Hospital in 2008, the authorities stopped granting permission to hold the fireworks display, amid concerns that closing the Santa Venera tunnels would hinder ambulances and jeopardise patients.

However, following the change of government two years ago, the police had a change of heart and granted fireworks enthusiasts permission to close this arterial road for a couple of hours.