UNDERCOVER kids are being brought in to trap traders who sell fireworks to children.

Trading Standards officers are preparing to test out the determination of shopkeepers to stop youngsters from buying fireworks by sending in specially-recruited volunteer youngsters to try to buy them from local shops. The council's Trading Standards team has also launched a new poster, teaming up with police to spread the message to youngsters that shops across the borough have been reminded that it is illegal to sell fireworks to anyone who is under the age of 18.

Tony Bunn, Bury Council's principal trading standards officer, said, "The police and council's environmental services department get plenty of complaints about young people letting off fireworks and making a nuisance of themselves and, of course, fireworks are also dangerous if not handled properly.

"This year we've a new poster about underage sales of fireworks that we are taking round to all shops selling fireworks in the borough and we've got Tottington, Ramsbottom, Radcliffe, Whitefield and Prestwich police on board."

This week council and police officers have been carrying out joint visits to reinforce the message to the shops not to sell fireworks to under 18s and getting them to display the poster.

The penalty for selling unsafe fireworks, splitting packs or selection boxes, selling fireworks to children or for selling high-explosive, Category 4 fireworks to anyone other than a professional are high: a maximum fine of £5,000 or six months in prison, or both.