FIRE chiefs today pleaded with the rogue traders to stop selling restricted fireworks to the general public after a spate of life-threatening explosions.

The latest, in Accrington, severely damaged a phone box.

Police said those responsible for the 'malicious explosion' could not have known whether parts of the kiosk would fly off and hurt passers-by.

Like the handful of incidents across East Lancashire -- which have resulted in one man being killed -- over recent months, Friday night's explosion inside the phone box in Queens Road West, Accrington, involved a commercial firework which should not be sold to the general public.

Cars, post boxes, phone boxes and grit bins have all been blown apart by explosions caused by fireworks recently, while buildings have been damaged.

Now fire bosses are calling on the people selling the fireworks to the public to stop before someone is killed.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue said: "We would appeal to the people selling these fireworks to consider the consequences.

"The fireworks involved are the sort which should not be sold to the public so are being sold illegally. They are being sold to people who evidently have no idea how to use them and are using them in a totally inappropriate, dangerous fashion."

In response to Friday night's incident, a Police spokesman said: "We would appeal not only to the people involved but also to the people who might know where the fireworks are coming from to get in contact with us.

"Used incorrectly, these fireworks can cost lives."

The North West had the highest accident figure in the UK for firework related injuries last year, including 178 hospital admissions and the death of 18-year-old Burnley man Paul Ridge.

The apprentice mechanic, of Pembroke Street, died after a firework exploded in his face close to the Duke of York pub in October.

Lancashire Trading Standards chief Jim Potts said: "These fireworks should not be sold to the public.

"These incidents demonstrate the need to restrict the sale of fireworks to just a few days before and few days after big events, like Bonfire Night.

"The people who are abusing these fireworks are getting them from somewhere."