PARENTS of children caught throwing fireworks could end up having to accompany them to court as part of crackdown by police.

East Lancashire's two divisions have taken the tough approach to reduce the number of injuries and complaints that happen each year in the run-up to Bonfire Night.

Sgt Graham Eccles, who is co-ordinating the move across Eastern and Pennine divisions, said in the North West there were 249 casualties involving fireworks in the four weeks between October 14 and November 13 last year.

And although there was a national reduction of 25 per cent from the year before the numbers were still too high and saw a rise from the 1999 North West total of 178.

It is against the law to throw fireworks within 50 yards of a highway and to annoy or endanger others and the police have the powers to caution or take offenders to court. For juveniles that would mean them being accompanied by their parents.

Trading Standards has also threatened send any shopkeepers caught selling fireworks to children under 18 to jail for six months or fine them up to £6,000.

Last year just short of a third of shopkeepers tested in Lancashire sold fireworks to juveniles.

Sgt Eccles said: "Both divisions will be working hard to clamp down on this. I'm meeting with trading standards and the fire brigade and there are crime and disorder partnerships meetings coming up looking at bonfire night itself."

A spokesperson for the police said: "Previous years have seen children throw fireworks at cars and people, put them through letterboxes and place them inside phone boxes.

"Some of the more powerful category three fireworks have even been used in the past to blow up abandoned vehicles."

Sgt Eaton, of Accrington police, said: "If it gets out of hand this year the police have powers and we will use them.

"I and the Community Beat Managers are also working in partnership with local schools, trading standards, the fire service and traders to attempt to minimise this year's problem.

"In Accrington every parent of children aged nine and above will receive a letter outlining previous problems, the law relating to the anti social use of fireworks and some simple advice for parents concerned about the matter."

Lancashire principle trading standards officer, Mr Brimble, said: "The law is well publicised so why shopkeepers keep selling them to children, I don't know? Maybe it is a training issue, maybe it is carelessness, but if they have any doubts they should not sell them."