Three tons of Maltese fireworks lit up the Spanish skies last night in a 20-minute show put together by the Għaxaq St Joseph fireworks factory.

The enthusiasts, who took part in a nine-day international festival, competed with factories from Australia, Tenerife, Austria and Valencia.

Although the Maltese fireworks manufacturers’ show, in the Basque city of Bilbao, lasted only 20 minutes the planning process was much longer. In fact, work on the fireworks, which ranged from ground, mortars and coloured pyrotechnics, started two months ago, enthusiast David Caruana said.

They packed the fireworks carefully on a truck and caught the ferry to Catania, Sicily, on August 16, five days before the festival started. From Catania, they caught another ferry to Genoa and drove overland to Bilboa.

Mr Caruana admitted it was not an easy process to take part, especially in terms of the preparations and logistics.

“Sometimes it felt like we were never going to make it but here we are and all is well,” he said.

They set up camp at a Spanish fireworks factory and spent three frantic days preparing the firing mechanism.

The Maltese team faced stiff competition, especially from Foti International Fireworks, the Australian factory that is world renowned for its intrinsic and striking displays on the Sydney Harbour Bridge every New Year’s Eve.

“Obviously, it was a great show but I feel the Tenerife team was the best so far,” Mr Caruana said.

Yet, he was optimistic about the Maltese display. “The jury actually came to the factory to see how we did the ground fireworks, which is something they don’t usually do,” he said.

The team was determined to do Malta proud. “At the end of the day, we are not here just representing the Għaxaq factory but we fly Maltese flag.”

The festival ends today and the winners will be announced tomorrow.