Seven spectators were injured when fireworks blasted into a crowd last night (December 4) at a Buddhist temple in Thailand.

Hundreds of people had gathered at the Wat Jumphon temple in Surin province to watch the pyrotechnics display.

But moments into the show one of the stands toppled over, firing rockets towards terrified viewers.

Na Laplern, 47, was smashed in the chest just below his neck. He was knocked to the ground and suffered serious burns while six other locals, including two teenage girls and two pensioners, were rushed to hospital with injuries.

Police and safety officials from the local council are now investigating the incident amid suspicions that the fireworks had not been anchored properly.

Onlooker Tar Apakorn said: ''The show was going normally then the fireworks were exploding close to the ground. They started flying towards us and people were screaming. Nothing hit me but I saw two people near me fall to the ground.''

Surin Police said they received a call at 8:15pm about the incident and arrived on the scene with fire crews and paramedics.

There were around ten large cylinders all racked up against a wooden stand.

Police Liutenant Yotsawat Namsong said: ''There were seven injured people including one man who was shot in the neck by one of the fire works. He was on the ground and taken to hospital quickly.''

''It is expected that the fireworks base was not tight and fell down during the display. This caused the rockets to shoot at the crowd and the sparks injured them. The police will investigate.''

Seven spectators were injured when fireworks blasted into a crowd last night (Wed) at a Buddhist temple in north-eastern Thailand.

Hundreds of people had gathered at the Wat Jumphon temple in Surin province to watch the pyrotechnics display.

But moments into the show one of the stands toppled over, firing rockets towards terrified viewers stood near a pond.

Na Laplern, 47, was smashed in the chest just below his neck. He was knocked to the ground and suffered serious burns while six other locals, including two teenage girls and two pensioners, were rushed to hospital with injuries.

Police and safety officials from the local council are now investigating the incident amid suspicions that the fireworks had not been anchored properly.

Onlooker Tar Apakorn said: ''The show was going normally then the fireworks were exploding close to the ground. They started flying towards us and people were screaming. Nothing hit me but I saw two people near me fall to the ground.''

Surin Police said they received a call at 8:15pm about the incident and arrived on the scene with fire crews and paramedics.

There were around ten large cylinders all racked up against a wooden stand.

Police Liutenant Yotsawat Namsong said: 'There were seven injured people including one man who was shot in the neck by one of the fire works. He was on the ground and taken to hospital quickly. It is expected that the fireworks base was not tight and fell down during the display. This caused the rockets to shoot at the crowd and the sparks injured them. The police will investigate.'