YOUNG thugs risked the lives of shoppers and staff by hurling a lit firework into a busy store, say police.

Dramatic CCTV footage has been released by officers investigating the "potentially lethal" offence which took place at the Co-operative Store in Duke Street, Devonport, at about 7pm on October 30.

Police are now hoping a teenage girl who was about to enter the store may have vital information about the culprits.

The footage shows a large gang of youths waiting outside the store in the minutes before the rocket was lit and seemingly aimed at the girl who was about to walk through the shop's front door.

The firework misses her by inches, racing past her and into the store where it struck an aisle and fell to the floor.

A second later it appears to re-ignite and smash into products, exploding and showering sparks across the aisle.

Pc Cher Dunbar, lead investigator, said: "For the staff and customers it was really quite distressing. One of the staff was heavily pregnant while another person suffered an asthma attack as a result of the firework going off."

In light of the recent death of a Bodmin woman, after a firework was shoved through her letterbox, Pc Dunbar stressed the seriousness of the incident.

She said: "Not only was there a potential for greater damage, the act itself could have had potentially lethal results."

The store was very busy with customers arriving and leaving in the minutes before the incident and police hope some of those shoppers will now come forward.

If you have information about the incident or recognise the girl shown, contact police on 08452 777444 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference number ED/09/7681.

To view the footage, visit www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/video