Materials used to make fireworks have been blamed for causing an explosion that killed six in a village in north China's Hebei Province last Monday, local police said yesterday.

The blast took place at around 1:30 PM in the house of Liu Haijun, a resident of Guangedian Village in Lirangdian Township of Gu'an County, Langfang City.

The six people killed included Liu, his wife and daughter. Six others were injured, police said. The explosion also destroyed or damaged dozens of houses.

According to the investigation, Li Zhenhai and his wife, both fellow villagers of Liu, had stored explosives in Liu's house to prepare for manufacturing fireworks later.

Gu'an and some neighboring counties have a tradition of manufacturing fireworks and other accidental explosions have been reported in the past.

Local police said they would conduct inspections in the county along with fire control and safety supervision departments to prevent the illicit manufacture, sale, transport and storage of dangerous materials.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2005)