A COUNCILLOR has called for Hyndburn residents to unite against yobs who he claims are deliberately scaring old people by setting off fireworks close to their homes.

Coun John Wells said he feared an elderly person might die from a heart attack if the youths continued to set off air bombs and other fireworks in the Milnshaw and Barnfield areas of Accrington.

He blamed "unscrupulous shopkeepers" for selling fireworks to children and said all residents should call the police if they saw youths playing with fireworks in the street.

Coun Wells, who represents Milnshaw ward, said: "They are targeting elderly people.

"I have seen children aged 13 and 14 playing with fireworks. I want to know where they are getting them.

"It must be down to unscrupulous shopkeepers.

"Letting off fireworks in the street is a criminal offence and people should report these yobs to the police straight away. "They should also tell their councillors and residents' associations what is going on."

Coun Wells said he had seen children setting off "bombs" near his home in St Leger Court, Barnfield, and said members of Milnshaw Residents' Association had told him problems were occurring there.

He said: "I was walking in Avenue Parade on Sunday morning when some kids let off an air bomb - there were people shopping with their children and elderly people.

"And someone let one off outside my window and it made me jump. Half the people in my area are elderly or disabled and my fear is that it won't be long until somebody dies of a heart attack because of this."

Coun Wells said he would like to see the law changed and a ban on the sale of fireworks except to the organisers of registered displays.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.