Cannon Blast effect
 

I am workin on a canon; I have started the modeling so will post with wireframe and finished product. My question is relating to the blast:


How do achieve the effect of a continuos blast of light, like a beam of bright light with force shooting towards sky.. Please help, I promise you will like the movie when it is done.

Please go easy on me with the jargon, still a newbie.. Thank you.