A CIRENCESTER businessman is hoping to enter the record books this New Year’s Eve, by smashing the record for the world’s largest firework display.

Simon Tapping, who has lived in Cirencester for seven years, is managing director of the IMG Artists team that is hoping this year’s firework display in Dubai will be the biggest in history.

He said: “We received the request in February this year and we have been working on it ever since. It’s a huge technical and logistical operation, with fireworks being shipped in from American, Spain and China.

“It takes months of detailed design and planning, as there are multiple firing positions, some on land and some on pontoons on the water.”

Simon, who is also a trustee for New Brewery Arts, told the Standard that he is no stranger when it comes to staging big productions like this.

He said: “Personally I’ve always loved fireworks. I’ve been lucky enough to have been involved in several big displays, including the opening of the London Eye on Millennium Eve, but the idea of breaking such an enormous record is truly exciting.

Over 200 people, with crews in six helicopters and more on the ground, will be responsible for beaming images of the event to countries all across the globe.

Simon will be jetting off to Dubai for the display with his wife and two daughters, aged five and seven.

He said: “They’re very excited and they’ve been telling all of their friends about it. I’ve warned them that where they will be watching from they will be surrounded by thousands of fireworks.

“I’m pretty such it will be the loudest thing they’ve ever heard.”

Dubai will celebrate the New Year at approximately 8pm GMT.