CHEMISTS were today placed on red alert for young firework fiends planning to beat new age restrictions by making their own.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain urged members to be extra vigilant in the run up to bonfire night in light of new laws raising the minimum age of buying fireworks from 16 to 18.

Mr Simon Haworth, the society's public relations officer for North East Lancashire, said: "We would urge pharmacists to take note of anybody asking for unusual things and to be aware of what chemicals asked for could be used to make."

Mr Haworth, who works at Darwen Health Centre, warned of an upsurge in the annual problem of teenagers trying to buy explosive ingredients following the law change.

He said he had seen a number of teenagers trying their luck when he worked at a high street chemist shop in Rawtenstall.

He added: "Hopefully, most chemists will be aware of their regular customers and will check to see what people hope to use substances for. "Legitimate customers will not mind being asked why they are buying these chemicals."

Society president Peter Curphey has sent a reminder to all pharmacies.

He said: "Many pharmacies supply a range of chemicals for scientific, light industrial and hobby purposes.

"Each year we issue a reminder to community pharmacists of the need to exercise caution to prevent the dangerous, not to say illegal, practice of making fireworks.

"With the minimum age for buying most fireworks now increased from 16 to 18, there is a possibility that we shall also see an increase in the number of older teenagers trying to buy chemicals from pharmacies with the aim of making their own fireworks.

"If a request for one or more particular substances is made to a pharmacist, he or she will need to take responsible steps to ensure they are required for a proper purpose and will not be used for making fireworks or handed to young children for that purpose."

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