A fireworks display at the Southampton Princess has sparked anger and concern among area residents.

And at least three families have lodged complaints with Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness or the Police to have the hotel clean up its act.

Residents told The Royal Gazette they could not believe their eyes when they awoke on Tuesday morning to find their roofs, cars, and yards littered with spent fireworks from the hotel the night before.

"We still have little pieces that fell all over our roof,'' said Sunnyside Park resident Mary Cann. "I still have some on my tank top.'' Mrs. Cann and her husband, Arnold, were sitting outside of their home when a piece of firecracker, which was still burning, fell into their yard.

Mr. Cann immediately phoned the hotel and left a message for the general manager, from whom he was still waiting to hear.

Mrs. Cann said her husband also called Mr. Edness who asked residents to prepare a report for him.

But she said it was not until Wednesday morning that they realised the real result of the fireworks display.

"When it happened we didn't think it was that bad until the next day when I came back from walking and saw black pieces on my steps,'' she said. "When I swept it up, it left soot on the steps. I had to wash it down with soap and water.'' She said her husband also had to sweep fireworks debris off the roof.

"I'm glad it didn't rain overnight,'' she added. "It could have gone in our tank.'' Another resident, Raymond Todd, said: "Residents are very disturbed and annoyed with the situation.

"If they (Southampton Princess) have to have the fireworks, why can't they do it down at the water or on the rock at the beach.'' He stressed that it was not the first time that residents had problems with fireworks at the hotel.

"The hotel sets off the fireworks right up there near the golf course and all of it blows over here,'' he said. "I mentioned it to Quinton Edness two to three years ago.

"They just seem to want to do what they feel. We have been very patient with them.'' Mr. Todd said he expected residents to begin circulating a petition against fireworks soon.

And another resident, who did not wish to be named, agreed with Mr. Todd.

"The silt from the crackers was all over our roof, car, and verandah,'' she said. "I wish they could put it down toward the sea because it is dangerous, if it gets in the drinking water.'' She added that while she had experienced problems with the fireworks before, she had never seen fireworks as "powerful'' as the recent episode.

Police spokesperson Evelyn James-Barnett confirmed Police had received one complaint about the fireworks and she said it was being investigated.

"Further applications (for fireworks at the hotel) will be monitored,'' she added.

Princess Hotels regional vice-president Stephen Barker declined to return phone calls yesterday. Mr. Edness said he had contacted Police Commissioner Colin Coxall and they were investigating the matter.

A HANDFUL -- Southampton resident Mary Cann holds up fireworks debris which landed in her yard from a Southampton Princess display earlier this week.