POLICE will be warning youngsters about the dangers of fireworks as Bonfire Night approaches.

As from October 15 this year, a change to the law means that the legal age limit to buy fireworks has risen from 16 to 18.

Local police forces will be ensuring that shopowners heed the new law and say they will have no hesitation in prosecuting any retailer found selling fireworks to under-18s.

Figures for 1995 show that 184 people were injured by fireworks in the North West alone.

Sergeant Graham Eccles said: "The misuse of fireworks causes undue annoyance, a waste of emergency service resources, unwarranted distress to both people and animals and, in a few cases, serious criminal charges.

"During the coming weeks the police will not only be acting on information received from members of the public, but will also be making random checks on retailers, with a view to detecting this type of offence and working in close liaison with trading standards officers."

Under the new regulations, fireworks must also conform to British Standards.

And those fireworks - other than rockets - which are designed to be projected from a mortar tube are not to be supplied to the public.

In addition, shopkeepers are not allowed to split retail boxes, certain bangers, such as Chinese Crackers, are illegal, and fireworks with erratic flights are banned.

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