Bonfire displays leaving people with lung conditions stuck inside, warns East Sussex group
BreatheEasy say fumes from displays can cause breathlessness, coughing fits and even infections
Bonfire displays are leaving people with lung conditions "stuck inside", an East Sussex support group's warned.
We've been hearing from Eastbourne and Lewes' BreatheEasy - who say fumes from displays can cause breathlessness, coughing fits and even infections.
Their founder Kim Cole - who's got has bronchiectasis which means her lungs get infected easily - says bonfires have an impact for days after.
"It doesn't just last for that particular night, it can linger. And of course bonfires tend to take place over a period of time and not just on one night, so it's really difficult for people with lung conditions to breathe."
She says sufferers can end up stuck inside.
"I would say probably 99% of people with a lung condition, wouldn't go outside if the air is polluted with smoke.
"If you can't breathe, you start to panic, which in turn affects your breathing. It can even lead to an infection," she says.
Kim says there's a lack of sympathy for people with lung conditions.
"People think that because you've got a lung condition, it's your won fault because you've smoked or something like that - when in fact that's not true. It can be caused by the environment."