MORE than one-and-a-half tonnes of fireworks were seized from a house in Leyland just days before Bonfire Night.

The haul, taken from a property in Farington, included five 80kg crates, and a number of dangerous explosive fireworks which are illegal.

Police say the quantity and type of fireworks seized, on Thursday, October 28, could have posed a severe risk to nearby residents if they had gone off.

The number discovered was well above the legal 25kg limit of fireworks allowed at a residential property.

The find follows a joint operation between police and Trading Standards, and during the first week of Southern Division's, Operation Cascade, which aims to cut nuisance and crime associated with fireworks.

PC Steve Gallery, community beat manager for the Farington area, said: "We have managed to recover these fireworks thanks to information that local people have provided, we could not have achieved this result without the public's help.

"They should also be reassured that information they provide to the police is acted upon."

Anyone who has any information about the illegal sale of fireworks are asked to contact the police on 0845-125-3545 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.