October 4 2003, BBC NEWS  England  South Yorkshire  Councillor calls for fireworks ban
A councillor in Barnsley is calling for a ban on powerful fireworks after a phone box was blown up in the town.
The device was thrown at the call box near the junction of Daleswood Avenue and Broadway at 0050 BST on Saturday.
People living nearby were awoken by a loud explosion and saw two youngsters running away from the area.
Councillor Sandra Birkinshaw, from the South West ward, told BBC Radio Sheffield it resembled the scene of a grenade attack.
She said: "The roof of the telephone box has been blown off, with glass sprayed nearly up to the Broadway traffic lights.
"The door has been blown to the other side of the road.
"Now that is not a normal firework that does that kind of damage."
Councillor Birkinshaw, who says she was burned by a firework as a child, will be raising the issue at the next council meeting.
South Yorkshire Police have also been informed about the incident.

October 4 2003, ic SurreyOnline, Chef guilty of airport bomb plot
A CHEF has been found guilty of plotting to blow up a restaurant at Gatwick Airport to take revenge on his former bosses.
Portuguese national Jose Pestana sparked a terrorist alert after building home-made explosives at his Crawley flat when his dreams of a £1m compensation payout were scuppered.
Pestana, 41, faces a "very long" jail term after a Lewes Crown Court jury on Monday convicted him of unlawfully and maliciously having explosives with the intent to endanger life.
Earlier in the five-day trial, the court heard Pestana was forced to leave Garfunkel's restaurant at Gatwick Airport after cutting a tendon on his finger in December 1995 and was later awarded £22,500 for his injury. He decided to get even by building two devices using gas canisters, gun powder and fuses. He planned to hurl them through the window.
Walton Hornsby, prosecuting, said: "Pestana made a number of threats that he would plant a bomb at Garfunkel's and kill the manager."
His plan was discovered when police searched his Langley Parade home after he was arrested in March on suspicion of extracting electricity. The devices were found hidden under his sofa. Pestana said the devices were designed to be used as fireworks.
Sentencing was adjourned until October 27,

October 4 2003, This is Bristol, FIREWORKS ARE STILL BEING SOLD TO U16S
I Was wondering if anyone could inform me as to why groups of young teenagers are roaming the streets at night letting off fireworks? Firstly, I thought that fireworks were only supposed to be sold three weeks either side of November 5.
Secondly, I also thought it was illegal to sell fireworks to people under the age of 16.
I also rather naively thought that parents might be bothered about the fact that their little darlings go around creating a nuisance for other people to put up with.
Obviously I'm a complete fool for thinking that the laws of this country actually mean something.
D S., Speedwell.

October 4 2003, This is Lancashire, Fireworks yobs to face arrest and prosecution
POLICE have announced a crackdown on yobs who set off fireworks before Bonfire Night.
They say anyone lighting fireworks in a public place will be arrested -- and could be prosecuted.
And any young people behaving in an anti-social way causing a nuisance for residents, especially at night, will be targeted as part of the campaign.
Police will also be calling time on under-age drinking and will crack down on any alcohol-related incidents committed by young people in the run up to Bonfire Night. At this time of year, police are inundated with complaints by residents whose lives are made a misery by the firework throwing hooligans.
Pets are left terrified by the continual sound of rockets and bangers going off and the problem seems to start earlier every year. Officers are determined to get tough with culprits.
The fire brigade and police have been visiting high schools in Bolton to drive home the message about the danger of fireworks.
Officers will also be supporting fire crews called out to incidents. Firefighters have come under attack from youths in previous years.
PC Andrea Brown, of Bolton police, said: "We are taking a tough stance on any anti-social behaviour or incidents involving fireworks.
"Anyone caught setting off fireworks in a public place will be arrested and could be prosecuted.
"We are determined to crack down on this type of behaviour and we will be responding quickly to incidents." Under new legislation which comes into force next year, the sale of fireworks will be restricted to three weeks before and a few days after November 5 and for a similar period around the New Year.
The use of fireworks will be banned during anti-social hours and a noise limit of 120 decibels on fireworks available to the public will be imposed.
Fines of up to £5,000 or imprisonment for traders who sell fireworks to under-18s or break other regulations will also be introduced.

October 4 2003, This is Lancashire, Rocket horror teenager's dad in ban plea
THE father of a Bury teenager who lost his hand in an horrific firework accident has called for the Government take them off the shelves.
James Hamilton, whose son Stuart returned to a lit rocket, said potentially lethal fireworks should be banned from sale to protect other youngsters from the dangers.
Stuart, now a student at Bolton College, narrowly escaped death when he returned to a check on a firework he had lit just minutes earlier in an empty school building.
The powerful rocket -- bought from a friend -- blew his right hand off and left him with serious injuries to his face, ears and chest.
Mr Hamilton, of Green Street, Bury, said: "Now is the time for the government to act and ban shops from selling fireworks. They should only be available to people who are going to use them for displays.
"Stuart was 15 at the time and should have known better but he shouldn't have been able to get his hands on fireworks.
"There is no reason why they should be on sale to the general public. While fireworks are in the shops kids will be able to get their hands on them because older kids are buying them."
Stuart was able to begin a course in plastering at Bolton College after a series of operations at Wythenshawe Hospital to restore his hearing and reconstruct part of his hand.
Mr Hamilton said current laws do not go far enough to ensure youngsters will not put their lives at risk.
"It shows just how dangerous they can be for anyone," he said. "Stuart has been lucky to receive such good medical care but he will still need further operations on his ears to get his hearing back to normal.
"He made the biggest mistake of his life when he went back to that firework and paid a huge price for it.
"The people who sell them need to be a lot more responsible. They ought to think about whether they would like their children to be playing with their lives."

October 4 2003, This is The North East, Warning about firework misuse
POLICE in east Durham have warned they will take firm action against anyone misusing fireworks in the run-up to Bonfire Night.
With November 5 only a few weeks away, emergency services and council agencies are already preparing for the expected spate of calls from worried and angry members of the public.
Mounting complaints over explosives being used long before Guy Fawkes' Night have this year prompted the police, fire brigade, Durham County Council's trading standards department and Easington District Council to draw up a set of measures aimed at curbing the problem.
Any hotspot areas will be targeted by patrols of police officers and Easington's environmental wardens.
Retailers are also being issued with reminders of their legal obligations and residents will be urged to ring trading standards officers on 0191-383 3589 if they want to report anyone selling fireworks to under-18s.
School visits by police and fire brigade teams will concentrate on warning children not to play with fireworks and magistrates are being asked to consider issuing stiff penalties to offenders in an attempt to deter others.
Last year, several people in the Easington police area were prosecuted for setting off fireworks in the street. Each was fined £105.
Over the past few days, six individuals have been caught in Peterlee town centre and dealt with for similar offences.
Sergeant Dave Young, of the Easington Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, said: "We get hundreds of complaints each year about fireworks being let off in the street.
"It is something which causes alarm and distress to both people and animals. The laws are very clear and anyone setting off bangers, rockets or any other type of device in a public place will be dealt with accordingly.''
"If we receive information which points to a particular spot, we will step up patrols in the area, as will the council's street wardens.''
Residents with concerns about illegal bonfires being set up can contact Easington council's "Envirocall'' on 0191-527 5040.

October 3 2003, BBC NEWS  Manchester  Police tackle firework crime
Police have begun an operation to stop youngsters causing a nuisance by letting off fireworks in Manchester during the run up to Bonfire Night.
Officers are aiming to cut the traditional rise in crime and anti-social behaviour, in the weeks prior to 5 November, in the Wythenshawe area.
The five-week initiative follows an operation fighting crime in shopping centres and a ban on alcohol on the streets in the district.
Police will visit schools and hand out information packs spelling out the law on fireworks, alcohol and vandalism.
'Community concerns'
High-profile patrols will also be maintained in the area to watch out for the illegal sale of alcohol and fireworks and to protect homes from the threat of arson.
Detectives said the Wythenshawe Park bonfire and fireworks display would also be strictly policed.
Sergeant Kevin Grimsley, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "At this time of year, incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour usually rise sharply and, as the nights draw in, we need to address the concerns of our community.
"Operation Garden City has proved very successful in the past with a 39% reduction in youth nuisance reports and a 19% reduction in crime, as well as considerable reductions in fire related incidents overall."
In the run up to bonfire night 2002, Greater Manchester Fire Service reported a 37% reduction in all fires involving property, a 54% reduction in other fires, a 38% reduction in hoax calls and a 53% reduction in car fires.

October 3 2003, ic Huddersfield, Hooligans terrorise evening shoppers
HOODED hooligans are terrorising evening shoppers in Waterloo.
Residents spoke out just days after an action plan was unveiled, aimed at curbing anti-social behaviour in Kirklees.
One woman contacted the Examiner, saying a gang of 40 to 50 youths were terrifying anyone who "dared" to visit the shops in Waterloo in the evening.
"When this gang is rounded up and suitably disposed of, I will personally congratulate the top-level panel for their action plan," she said.
Dalton councillor Roger Battye admitted there was a big problem with anti-social behaviour all over the ward.
He said the gang moved around Wakefield Road, Moldgreen and Kirkheaton and had made parts of the Dalton estate a "no-go area".
He said that on Tuesday night he had received several calls from people because of a "firework fight" in Dalton's Harp Inge area.
Young people were deliberately throwing fireworks at homes and buildings.
And in Oakes, resident Andrew Boyles said gangs were intimidating people on the streets near his home and in Lindley and Salendine Nook.
Homes and businesses suffered broken windows and general vandalism.

October 3 2003, ManchesterOnline - News, A firework did this to me
THE horrific injury suffered by teenager Stuart Harvey-Hamilton shows why fireworks should be banned from open sale.

A rocket exploded without warning and blew off his right hand.

Now Stuart, from Green Street, Bury, is warning youngsters about the dangers of fireworks.

Today his family backed the M.E.N. campaign for a ban on the over-the-counter sale of fireworks.

Stuart told how last year, when he was 15, he found a powerful rocket and went into a school out of class hours.

In a moment of madness, he lit the fuse and put it in a cupboard.

But it failed to go off, so he went back and picked it up - and it then exploded. It blasted off his hand and burst his eardrums, leaving him with 60 per cent deafness. The explosion also shattered 17 windows and shredded the curtains in the classroom at Elton High School near his home.

Stuart, now 16, said: "I don't know why I did it.

"Lots of kids love fireworks and fire and if there's nothing to do and they can get hold of fireworks, then they will use them.

"I lit the rocket and left it for about three minutes. It didn't go off, so I went back - and it was the biggest mistake of my life.

Blast
"When I picked it up, it exploded in my face. I tried to put my right hand up to my face, then I realised it wasn't there any more."

After the blast, a friend wrapped Stuart's injured arm in a jumper, carried him to a car and took him to Fairfield Hospital in Bury.

Surgeons have performed a series of operations at Wythenshawe Hospital and he faces further surgery as his hearing is still only at 40 per cent.

Now Stuart, who is training to become a plasterer, is helping the fire service to warn youngsters about firework dangers as part of a 12-month probation order imposed in court.

"I urge children not to learn from their own mistakes," he said, "but learn from mine instead.

"Children will always light fireworks if they can get them, but they should never go back to them. Now I just think they're dangerous - I can't see myself using them again.

"My life has changed and it's frustrating sometimes trying to do my work, but I'm determined to succeed. I don't expect any sympathy and I want to move on."

His warning comes on the day police are launching a crackdown on the sale of fireworks to youngsters in the run-up to Bonfire Night. Officers in Wythenshawe are working with the city council and the fire brigade to prevent the menace of young people using fireworks in the streets.

The M.E.N. fireworks campaign calls for a ban on over-the-counter sales and a new law - backed by the M.E.N. - will come in to force next year limiting when fireworks can be sold to the period around November 5. Town hall bosses have called for a voluntary ban until the new law comes in.

Fascinated
Stuart's mum, Margaret, backed the M.E.N. and said: "I think any child who saw Stuart bleeding and injured would stay away from fireworks.

"But kids don't do that and boys, especially, are fascinated by fire.

"Stuart made a big mistake and he's paid a huge price for it, with the loss of his hand a daily reminder.

"His life has changed, but he could have given up and we're proud of the way he's persevered."

After the accident, Margaret and Stuart's dad, James, contacted Bury council's Education Welfare Service for help so that Stuart could finish his studies.

With their help, he has learned to write with his left hand, passed six GCSEs and started a course in plastering at Bolton Community College.

He has a specially-adapted arm extension to help him with his work.

Donna Alderson, from Education Welfare Services, said she was proud of the teenager for his efforts and added: "He did wrong, but he has turned things around - and hopefully other youngsters will learn from his mistake."

October 3 2003, This is Bristol - BAN EARLY SALE OF FIREWORKS - NOW
What has happened to the crackdown on fireworks? Every year many readers, including myself, write into the Post complaining about fireworks being put on sale far too early and sold to underage morons. For the last week or so we have heard fireworks being set off. For goodness sake, who is selling these damn things so early?
Nothing seems to change year in year out. All the letters and complaints mean nothing.
Let's do something about this once and for all.
In my opinion fireworks should be sold for public displays only, and not sold to the majority of morons who are buying them just to cause as much disruption as possible.
L H., Redfield.

October 3 2003, This is Dorset, Pyro-maniac!
EXPLOSIVES experts were called in after a potentially lethal cache of fireworks was found in a domestic garage - just yards from neighbouring homes.
More than three tons of devices were discovered in Bournemouth's Westbourne area on Wednesday night following a tip-off from a member of the public.
To put the haul in context, during the six weeks of Friday night firework displays at Bournemouth 21 tons of fireworks and equipment is used altogether.
A quarter of a ton of that is pure gunpowder.
It is estimated that around a couple of tons of fireworks and equipment is used in each of the Friday night displays.
The seizure comes just a fortnight after the Daily Echo's Bang Out of Order campaign for a crackdown on nuisance fireworks ended in success.
A Bill cleared its final hurdle in Parliament to allow the government to place more restrictions on their sale and use.
Bournemouth's senior trading standards officer Andy Sherriff said: "The combined explosive power could have had fatal consequences. It would have blasted out windows and caused damage to homes.
"The amount far exceeds what would be allowed even in approved stores registered by trading standards," said Mr Sherriff.
"The garage had exposed electrical wires on the ceiling and a broken lock so youngsters could easily have gained entry."
Trading standards staff arranged for the removal of the illicit stock to a secure store.
"Dumping this amount of explosives in a residential street shows a reckless disregard for the law and the community at large," said Mr Sherriff.
Senior technical officer Keith Evans said: "This kind of storage is illegal and irresponsible - lives and property were put at risk.
"People are dismissive of fireworks but they are explosives and can pose a real danger even when used in accordance with the instructions."
Police and trading standards officers are investigating who may have used the garage and where the fireworks came from.
Mr Sherriff said: "We would urge shopkeepers and local residents to watch out for people selling fireworks from the back of a van or in any circumstances that might arouse suspicion."
Bournemouth Trading Standards service can be contacted at the Town Hall on 01202 451440.

October 3 2003, This is Gloucestershire, WARNING ISSUED OVER FIREWORKS
Police say parents and traders need to do more to stop youths causing havoc on Bonfire Night and Hallowe'en.

Gloucestershire police say they receive "a huge volume" of calls from people complaining about firework misuse and "trick or treat" incidents. Last year this included 106 separate complaints, most involving egg throwing, made to its call centre between 5pm an 11pm on October 31.

It also received 30 complaints about irresponsible use of fireworks during the early evening of November 5, and many more throughout the preceding month.

Chief Insp Ian Clark said: "We have numerous examples of incidents like these which caused real problems for people all over the county last year.

"One elderly woman who rang us was distraught to have youngsters throwing eggs at her house as her husband had only just been released from hospital following heart surgery. They were terrified."

Insp Clark said parents needed to make sure they knew what their children were doing.

He added: "It's not only up to the young people perpetrating these acts to take responsibility for their actions. It's up to their parents and retailers as well."

"Those selling fireworks should be well aware of the penalties facing them if they sell them to people under age. Retailers should bear in mind that if a teenager buys four dozen eggs, the chances are they may be planning to use them for something other than cooking."

Chief Insp Clark added: "We don't want to ruin people's fun but if we receive complaints we won't hesitate to take action."

October 3 2003, This is Lancashire, Police on guard against firework crime
POLICE in Greater Manchester have launched an operation to stop youngsters causing a nuisance by letting off fireworks during the run up to Bonfire Night.
Officers are aiming to cut the traditional rise in crime and anti-social behaviour, in the weeks prior to 5 November.
The initiative - in the Wythenshawe area - follows an operation fighting crime in shopping centres and a ban on alcohol on the streets.

October 3 2003, This is Nottingham, SIGN UP FOR FIREWORK FUN
People are being urged to attend registered displays on Bonfire Night instead of letting off fireworks in their back garden.

The plea was issued by Amber Valley Borough Council in the hope of preventing any injuries or accidents.

It is urging revellers to organise events between November 1 and November 9 and to register them with Derbyshire Voluntary Bonfire and Fireworks Registration Scheme.

Coun Chris Short, the council's cabinet member for Health and Leisure, said: "During last year's bonfire season, 1,017 people were treated for firework injuries in UK hospitals.

"We want everyone in Amber Valley to enjoy a safe Bonfire Night - that is why we are encouraging residents to attend approved public displays."

For details of events approved by the scheme, contact Louise Hall at Amber Valley Borough Council on 01773 841308.

October 3 2003, This is York, Blown apart
THESE shattered fragments are all that remain of a York wheelie bin after it was blown up by a monster firework.
Students Gemma Whittaker and Paul Donovan returned to their home in Tang Hall to find shards of plastic and even wheels had been sent flying across the street into gardens and hedges.
Neighbours say they were convinced a bomb had gone off when the firework exploded with a massive bang earlier this week in Harington Avenue, off Melrosegate.
They warned that had anyone been walking past at the time, they could have been badly injured by one of the shards.
"It was terrible. It was just like a bomb had gone off," said a nearby resident, who later found a wheelie bin wheel in her garden and spotted a fragment of plastic embedded in a nearby hedge.
"An elderly lady living nearby was absolutely terrified. I have never heard such a loud bang.
"If someone had been walking by at the time, they could have been blinded."
Another resident, Matthew Scott, said: "It's a nuisance and potentially dangerous."
Residents said another bin had been blown up near the entrance to nearby St Nicholas Fields, and a third had been destroyed in Melrosegate.
Paul Donovan said he had been away and returned home late on Tuesday night to find the empty bin in his front garden destroyed, with fragments thrown into the road and into gardens two doors away.
"I phoned the council to say the bin had been damaged and they said: Fireworks, is it?'," said Mr Donovan, adding that a replacement bin had been promised in a few days time.
City of York Council said several bins had been destroyed by fireworks or fire around the city.
A spokeswoman said: "It is very irresponsible and could cause serious or even fatal injuries."
Evening Press readers have continued to complain about the loud bangs caused by fireworks across the city, with residents in Haxby, Huntington and Heworth all reporting being disturbed.
A man living in Skeldergate complained that he was woken at 1.50 am today by a massive bang from a firework, let off on the other side of the River Ouse.
North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue service spokesman Terry Glover said it was approaching its busiest time of the year, and he warned people to be cautious when preparing bonfires and to avoid stockpiling bonfire materials too early.

October 2 2003, ic CheshireOnline - Firework gang torches homes
A GANG of masked men, believed to be members of a drugs gang, kicked down the front doors to two town centre homes before setting them ablaze with high-powered fireworks.
Firefighters were alerted to the first incident in Bentinck Street, Runcorn, at about 3.40 am on Friday. They found the porch still burning and smoke and fire damage to the rest of the house.
The house was being occupied at the time by one of the five tenants, who managed to escape unaided.
An hour later firefighters were called out to nearby Leinster Gardens, where an identical attack had taken place.
Police have linked the two attacks and residents believe drug dealers could be behind both incidents.
A neighbour in Bentinck Street, who did not wish to be named, said: 'The first I knew of it was flashing lights outside the bedroom window.
'I'd definitely describe them as nuisance neighbours, and I'd say it's a blessing they're gone.
'It's terrifying really that something like this can happen to such a close community.'
Phil Colwill, of Colwill's corner store in Brackley Street, is blaming both arson attacks on a local drugs baron, anxious to recover mounting debts.
He said: 'The gang who did it apparently got in through the front door and fired a rocket firework up the stairs, setting the place on fire.
'It's not the first time this has happened. There was a similar incident at Leinster Gardens last year.
'This is actually the opposite of a troublesome neighbourhood, and so it's shocked everyone that something like this has happened.
'People are always coming and going at both houses. They are actually owned by the mother of one of the occupants, who is a businesswoman.'
Police think the arson incidents are linked. Any witnesses, or anyone with further information, should call DC Christine Stubbs or DC Ged Upham at Runcorn CID on 01244 613936, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

October 2 2003, ic CheshireOnline, Firework retailers targeted
A DOUBLE assault has been launched by the police and Halton Borough Council on firework retailers in a bid to ensure a safe bonfire night.
An information blitz was launched yesterday by Halton Borough Council's consumer protection service targeted at businesses selling fireworks and warning members of the public of the dangers.
Businesses selling fireworks are legally required to register with the consumer protection service.
During the next few weeks a team of officers will be visiting all registered premises to ensure that fireworks are stored safely and no illegal fireworks such as bangers are on sale.
They will also be making spot checks to ensure fireworks are not sold to under-18s.
John Downs, Halton's consumer protection manager, said: 'Businesses who do not meet the legal storage requirements following the detailed advice they have already received from the service, or are found to be stocking banned or illegal fireworks will face immediate enforcement action.'
Any business failing to comply with the rules will have all their fireworks seized and face prosecution.
The tough measures have been welcomed by Supt Clive Pownall. He said: 'Halton police support the work of the consumer protection service to prevent the illegal sale of fireworks to children. Officers from the Community Action Team will be actively assisting in identifying those traders who sell to children.
'The safety of the public is of paramount importance to Cheshire police and we would encourage people to attend local organised displays.'
Cllr Stan Hill, Halton's executive board member for the environment, said: 'Traders have a legal and moral duty to uphold the law and the vast majority do so. However, our undercover visits and checks of registered premises will reinforce our firework safety message and hopefully ensure that we can all enjoy a safe bonfire night.'

October 2 2003, This is Cheshire, Teenage girls trapped after firework pushed through door
A FIREWORK was shoved through the letterbox of a house where two teenage girls were staying on Saturday night.
The girls, thought to be aged 16 and 18, were left trapped in the living room of the house in Talbot Close, St Helens after the firework sparked a blaze.
Both were led to safety when firefighters arrived at the scene at about 10.45pm and put out the flames. The fire caused damage to the ground floor of the house.
Ambulance crews were called but the girls are not believed to have needed treatment. A police spokesperson said they were not sure if there was any motive behind the incident.

October 2 2003, This is Lancashire, Another year of bonfire misery
HOUSEHOLDERS dreading the onslaught of firework foolery should have cause for celebration.
Thanks to the power of the people, including 6,000 from the Leigh area, new laws to crack down on the menace have been given Royal assent.
Unfortunately we're still unlikely to be able to sleep easily in our beds this year -- the Act does not come into force until 2004.
Why on earth should it take so long to go into the statute book?
Surely to goodness people don't have to withstand another year of misery without some action being taken against the banger buffoons?
Perhaps retailers and the powers that be will act in the spirit of the new law so that everyone can have fun this November without causing distress to the elderly and animals.

October 2 2003, This is Nottingham, VANDALS STRIKE AT BOTTLE BANK SITES
Vandals who are blowing up bottle banks with fireworks are being warned their actions could have lethal consequences.

The culprits are causing thousands of pounds damage to newly-refurbished recycling sites in Ashfield, say council officials.

The dangerous stunt involves vandals setting off firework bombs inside the recycling bins, blowing them apart and showering shards of glass everywhere.

Vandals have destroyed recycling bins at Huthwaite, Sutton-in-Ashfield and Underwood.

October 2 2003, This is York, Time to limit fireworks
THE fireworks season is well underway. If recent experience is repeated, it will last until well after New Year. Bang goes our peace and quiet.
But there is some good news. This should be the last time we suffer a four-month fireworks night.
We are not anti-firework. Few events can rival the thrill of the November 5 sound and light spectacular. As the birthplace of Guy Fawkes, York has a special reason to enjoy the festivities.
If the pyrotechnics were limited to Bonfire Night, December 31 and special events, such as those held at Castle Howard, no one would complain.
Unfortunately, however, fireworks are seemingly available to all from September onwards. And that is a recipe for broken sleep, shattered nerves and worse.
The first problem is accessibility. A voluntary code supposedly restricts the sale of fireworks to the month around November 5. And sale to the under-18s is outlawed. However, the nightly detonations testify that neither code nor law is being obeyed.
The second problem is the size of the fireworks. These are not back garden bangers and rockets. They are powerful explosives.
Some of them are so loud they make it sound like war has been declared on peaceful suburbs. Old people, children and animals are particularly frightened by the nightly recreation of the Blitz.
We are therefore grateful that City of York Trading Standards is planning a crackdown on the sale of fireworks.
And we are must also thank Scottish Labour MP Bill Tynan, whose Fireworks Bill, backed by the Government, received Royal Assent last month. From next year it will only allow free sale of fireworks near Bonfire Night, outlaw the noisiest ones, impose an 11pm curfew on their use and introduce a licensing system. Peace at last. We hope.

October 2 2003, This is York, York rocked by fireworks fury
FIREWORKS "like landmines" have been exploding around York, with frightened residents complaining that their peace is being shattered.
Shopkeepers were warned today that they are facing the toughest crackdown yet on sales to youngsters.
Residents from Heworth to Bishophill reported hearing thundering bangs throughout yesterday afternoon and evening.
There have been other reports from South Bank, Foxwood and Hull Road.
Several of the rockets are thought to have come from the St Nicholas Fields area and have left residents in fear.
"These are no ordinary fireworks, they sound to me like maroon rockets or distress flares," said Lee Maloney, of Millfield Avenue, off Lawrence Street.
"If somebody fired one of those at your house it would be like a mortar bomb through your front window. One was so loud it actually shook our house, the windows actually rattled when it exploded, and that wasn't even that near us."
"They are almost like landmines," said Esther Harris, of Fifth Avenue, Heworth.
"I live in sheltered housing with my husband who has a heart complaint, and are really vulnerable if they keep getting frightened like this. There are lots of elderly people in their 90s who are terrified by all the noise."
Both Mrs Harris and Mr Maloney complained that police dismissed their concerns, saying it was a matter for the council, not them.
Mr Maloney said: "If the police are really supposed to be into crime prevention, then surely they should be round there doing something about it and making arrests before it does get worse."
Evening Press reader Ella Hirst complained in last night's later editions of loud explosions in South Bank, while Bernard Sawdon said there had been "explosive noises" in the Hull Road area for a couple of weeks.
Foxwood was also rocked yesterday afternoon.
Evening Press reporter Mike Laycock said: "I was sitting in my car, about to go and interview someone, when there was what sounded like a loud bang on my roof, as it if had been hit by a heavy football.
"But when I got out to see if it had been dented, I realised there was nothing there and someone said it must have been a large mortar firework going off. I later found some firework debris about 20 yards from my car."
City of York Council Trading Standards officers said today they are planning to send out people aged under 18 to shops around the city to make test purchases.
Any trader who sells fireworks to them risks prosecution and a hefty fine, said Colin Rumford, head of environmental health and trading standards.
"We have done this in the past, but it will be more intense this year because of an increasing number of complaints and the council's strategy of taking a tough line on street nuisances."
But he said the council could not do anything yet about any shops which have apparently already started selling fireworks, more than a month before Bonfire Night.
He said there was only a voluntary code in place at present, under which shops agreed to sell fireworks only three weeks before November 5, and for a week afterwards, so as to reduce the nuisance to residents.
However, legislation would be in place before next year's Bonfire Night which will strengthen controls, and this would be enforced by his department.
A North Yorkshire police spokeswoman said today: "It is not a police matter." And she added: "If we went out to every single phone call, we would not have the resources to deal with emergencies as they came up."

October 1 2003, Express and Star, Crackdown launched on fireworks nuisance, by Lynne Masters
Kidderminster Police launched a crackdown today to slash the nuisance of trick or treat gangs and fireworks in the run up to Halloween and Bonfire Night.
Operation Ghost will run in the area for the next six weeks and retailers will be asked not to sell fireworks to under 21s - three years over the statutory age limit of 18.
Officers will also be talking to schools about a code of good practice for trick or treating.
Inspector Jacqueline Smith, of North Worcestershire Police, said: "This time of year can be a very frightening experience for some people and we want to ensure that everyone has a safe and happy time.
"While the majority of people enjoy the festivities there are a small minority who behave in an anti-social way, frightening and even harming others. It is that action that we want to put a stop to."
She said the operation included targeting shops and outlets that sell fireworks to ensure that they follow the firework code of practice for retailers.
The police will be visiting the shops with representatives from Hereford and Worcester Fire Service and Worcestershire County Council's trading standards department, who have the power to stop the sale of fireworks if storage and selling conditions are not up to scratch.
They will reinforce the message that fireworks should not be sold until October 15, and for only a few days after bonfire night, and that they must not be sold to people under 18.
Officers will be asking retailers to voluntarily undertake not to sell them to anyone under the age of 21.
Inspector Smith added: "Because we are visiting retailers now there is no excuse for not storing or selling fireworks in the correct way.
"During the operation we shall also be talking to local schools about a code of good practice for youngsters involved in Halloween.
"Trick or treating tends to be something that children enjoy, but when it comes to teenagers it can start to feel intimidating for some."

October 1 2003, ic Birmingham, Burns blitz alert, by Alison Dayani, Evening Mail
Fire, police and council chiefs are teaming up to launch a hard-hitting safety campaign to keep fireworks off the city streets in the build up to Bonfire Night. Vendors selling fireworks to youths under 18 will be targeted in swoops by trading standards officers. Pupils at 400 schools across the city will also have special lessons on the dangers of fireworks in coming weeks. Birmingham Lord Mayor, Coun John Alden, is spearheading the campaign at the launch in Victoria Square today. "Every year there are more than 1,000 incidents involving fireworks and the majority in October and the run-up to November 5," he said. "Thousands more are inconvenienced through noise nuisance. "A similar campaign in Merseyside took £10,000 worth of illegal fireworks off the streets and resulted in a 14 per cent reduction in youth disorder. We hope to echo this success by raising public awareness through a strong enforcement programme coupled with a comprehensive education campaign."

October 1 2003, ic Newcastle - Pet Watch
Many pets can become distressed at the sound of fireworks and this time of year can be a particularly traumatic time for them.
First of all, find out from your local council when any major displays are going to happen near you and make sure you prepare well in advance for Guy Fawke's Night and festivities like Diwali.
Get your pet checked up by a vet first if you are at all worried about the effects the noises will have on your pet. The vet will be able to offer advice about how to keep your pet calm and advise whether any short-term medication would help.
Try and get your pet accustomed to loud noises well in advance of November 5. It is a good idea to start this as soon as you get a dog or a cat.
There are some recordings of firework noises that you can get from organisations like Sounds Scary and the vet may feel this will help your dog or cat. You can start playing the recording at a low volume, gradually increasing the sound over a few days, to try and desensitise your pet to the effects of noisy fireworks.
Tablets are also available from your vet if your dog or cat is likely to become very distressed at this time of year. Remember you must not use old or previously prescribed medication to treat your pet, even if they become very distressed, and never use human drugs on your pet.
Small furry pets like guinea pigs and rabbits, hamsters and gerbils, can also be affected. Bring in rabbits from the outside at night and make sure your hamster's cage is well-protected from any noises.
Rabbits are very sensitive and can be severely traumatised by loud noises. In addition, some pet's hearing is much better than ours, such as a guinea pig. They can hear sounds that are inaudible to the human ear so it is a good idea to protect small furry pets from loud bangs as best as you can.
Cats should be kept indoors after dark and dogs should be exercised before dusk. Your dog should wear a secure collar and be kept on the lead at all times. This is especially important as dogs can react quickly to a loud bang, slip their collar and end up seriously injured.
Make sure your pets are in a room they will feel secure in and draw the curtains as soon as it is dark. Place their bed in this familiar room and sit with them for a while but make sure you act as normal as possible.
If you try and soothe your pet, or act differently, this may make an animal more anxious. It may help to have the TV or radio on to drown out any sudden sounds and make sure there are places a pet can hide, which can be a comfort for some pets.
In addition, a blanket draped over the item of furniture they are hiding beneath will make a den that will further add to the feeling of security.
Some dogs will tolerate plugs of cotton wool in their ears, which can help drown out the sounds. However, dogs that are very afraid should never be left alone in the house if there are fireworks going off.
Last of all, you should always check underneath a bonfire before you light it to make sure there are no cats or hedgehogs underneath and clear away the hot embers afterwards. Scraps of leftover food can be harmful, as can hot spent fireworks.
A CD of loud firework noises can be purchased from Sounds Scary (www.soundsscary.com) at 11 Cotebrook Drive, Upton, Chester CH2 1RA. Prices start from £25. Tel no 01244 371473.

October 1 2003, ic Southlondon - Ten hurt in firework mayhem
TEN people were taken to hospital after being injured by large rocket fireworks set off in the streets of Erith.
At around 11.30pm last Wednesday, fireworks were let off at a group of male shift workers on an industrial estate in Crabtree Manor Way. Nine men were taken to hospital with various injuries.
Shortly afterwards at 12.30pm, a large firework destroyed a telephone box in West Street at the junction with Erith High Street. A police inspector based at Bexleyheath police station was injured when a second similar firework exploded at the scene. He was taken to hospital with injuries to his leg and body, and temporary hearing loss.
He is now recovering at home. Later on Thursday afternoon at around 3pm, a large firework destroyed a rubbish bin in busy Welling High Street but fortunately no one was injured.
Bexley police commander Robin Merrett, said: "I am appalled by these attacks and would stress the extreme dangers of misusing fireworks in public places.
"These incidents have led to a number of people being injured and taken to hospital. We are treating these incidents with the utmost seriousness and have increased police patrols in the area."
Police estimate the rockets were between 4 and 5 feet long.
They are appealing for any information on the attacks and are liaising with Kent police who have reported similar incidents recently.
London Fire Brigade is due to give out stringent safety warnings on the use of fireworks in the run-up to the bonfire season.
A spokesman said: "Fireworks burn at high temperatures and can cause terrible injuries very quickly".
It is an offence to supply fireworks, including sparklers, to any person under the age of 18.
Three men aged 23, 26 and 27, from South-east London, have been arrested in connection with the incidents and bailed to return to Bexleyheath police station in November.

October 1 2003, Irish Parliament, Large quantity of fireworks seized
Gardaí have seized a consignment of illegal fireworks valued at €20,000.
The seizure took place when a business premises was searched under warrant in the City west area of the city on 18th September 2003. Two pallets of assorted fireworks were seized.
Two men have been interviewed by Gardaí concerning the seizure.

October 1 2003, News Shopper, Lucky Escape For Drinkers
PUNTERS narrowly escaped injury after teenage yobs shattered a pub's windows with a firework.
Children wedged the firework rocket with newspaper into the umbrella hole of a picnic table outside The Park Tavern, Passey Place, Eltham, before setting it alight and running off at about 8.15pm on September 23.
The blast was so powerful it completely blew out three 7ft-high plate-glass windows and showered the pub with glass.
Landlord Joe Simmons, 40, who has run the pub for five years, says punters only escaped injury because most were in the second bar watching the West Ham versus Cardiff football match on television.
He said: "It was more luck than anything else which stopped people from getting hurt.
"There are big burn marks on the table where kids wedged the rocket so it could not take off. It was just 3ft from the big plate glass windows and they just blew out.
"Anti-glare film stopped glass going through on the small windows but the big windows are in bits.
"Somebody could have been killed. It was very loud. There was lots of glass everywhere and the front bar filled with smoke." He added: "They are just mindless kids. If they are not stopped, they are going to kill somebody.
"If they come back and get a kick out of seeing the damage they caused, what will they do next?" Replacing the windows cost more than £700.
Eltham Sector Inspector Gareth Davies said: "If a firework has got the power to blow out windows then it could have caused serious injuries.
"Perhaps it was just intended as a prank, but it is totally irresponsible.
"Fireworks can be dangerous, both to spectators and those lighting them. People must be careful and treat them with respect."

October 1 2003, News Shopper, Police Probe Series Of Huge Explosions
RESIDENTS of a "sleepy close" were left stunned as an explosion ripped through a house.
A woman was taken to Darent Valley Hospital with burns after what is thought to be a high-powered firework was pushed through the letterbox of her home, badly damaging the door and hallway.
Two cars in the road were also badly damaged when at least one device was fired at them.
Now police are linking the incidents, at The Maples, in New Barn, to a series of explosions across north Kent and south east London.
The attack, in the early hours of September 25, has been condemned by residents.
One neighbour, too scared to be named, said: "I couldn't believe the damage to the house. It was like a bomb had gone off.
"It was luckily she wasn't seriously hurt. This is normally a sleepy close." Police are investigating if the incident is linked with a number of huge explosions which rocked Erith last Wednesday and Thursday.
The explosives were fired into a factory, at a police inspector and at a telephone kiosk.
On Friday another device exploded in a rubbish bin in Welling's main shopping street.
Bexleyheath police are liaising with officers in Greenwich after a firework explosion at the Park Tavern pub, in Eltham, blew out the windows on September 23 and are looking at another incident at a Belvedere factory which caused £60,000 damage on September 18.
Detective Inspector Mick Morgan (pictured), who is leading the investigation, says he is "totally perplexed" by the random explosions.
Four men in their 20s from the Erith and Bexley areas have been interviewed by police about the explosions but no-one has been charged.
Police have also recovered a car which may have been involved in the incidents and have traced its owner.
DI Morgan said police had not yet established exactly how many devices had been used in the incidents, whether they had been bought or stolen, or if the incidents were connected.
He said: "People could very easily have been killed.
These devices were extremely powerful," he said.
Anyone with information about the incidents should call Bexleyheath police on 020 8301 1212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

October 1 2003, This is Cheshire, Firework thugs put lives at risk
HOODED men who torched the houses of two friends have been condemned for putting lives at risk.
Men wearing balaclavas hurled fireworks through neighbouring homes in Runcorn Old Town.
Det Con Ged Upham, said: "It could have been a whole lot worse, not just for the victims but for neighbours on either side. If the houses had caught fire, it could have been very serious."
A man escaped unhurt from a smoke logged house in Benedict Street at 3.40am, last Friday. A woman got out safely from a nearby property in Leinster Gardens, two hours later. Police say the couple, in their late 30s, were friends.
Fire sub officer Ken Sharratt, said: "There was the potential for life loss. People could have been trapped. I am very concerned about fireworks getting into the hands of people who use them dangerously."
Anyone with information can call Det Con Ged Upham or Christine Stubbs on 01244-613936.

October 1 2003, This is Dorset, Firework fanatics warned of action
PEOPLE letting off late-night fireworks and bringing misery and sleepless night to residents of Poole had better watch out.
Because anyone caught doing so from council-owned open space can expect a rocket.
In the past week a number of fireworks have been exploding over Parkstone, particularly in the area around Constitution Hill Road and the Sea View viewpoint at the end of Ashley Road.
On Sunday night the explosions started at 11.30pm and led to a flood of complaints being reported to police, Poole council and the Echo.
One resident of Courtenay Road said: "It is such a racket. I heard several explosions after 11.30pm - like gunfire - which I consider very anti-social.
"It is difficult to pinpoint exactly where they are being let off from, but I think if enough people complain about it something will come out of it.
"When it is obviously being done out-of-hours at a time when people are trying to sleep then it is unreasonable. "Every time I hear fireworks now I will call consumer protection."
Parkstone Cllr Don Collier is certain the culprits are letting off fireworks from the Constitution Hill viewpoint and warns that if they are caught they face prosecution.
He said: "It is not permitted. This is public open space and doing this is an abuse of the land.
"We've had three or four nights of it on the trot from the Sea View area and the police and consumer protection can prosecute."

October 1 2003, This is Hull - BOX DESTROYED BY EXPLOSION
Bransholme: A telephone box was blown up and destroyed on Sunday.
The box, in Cumbrian Way, was flattened by the explosion.
Last week a telephone box in Beverley Road was damaged in an explosion believed to have been caused by fireworks. Call police on (01482) 578600.

September 30 2003, ic SurreyOnline, Chef made bombs 'to use as fireworks'
A PORTUGESE chef accused of plotting to blow up a Gatwick Airport restaurant told a jury he made the explosives to use as fireworks.
Jose Pestana, 41, is alleged to have built two home-made devices to take revenge on his former employers after his dreams of a £1m compensation payout were scuppered.
The cook was awarded £22,500 for a finger injury sustained while he was working at Garfunkel's restaurant. Lews Crown Court heard how the devices, made from gas canisters, gunpowder and fuses, would have acted as huge grenades and would have killed the manager, allegedly his main target, as well as diners.
Pestana denies unlawfully and maliciously having explosive substances with intent to endanger life and a further charge of possession of explosive substances.
The jury was out at the time of going to press .

September 30 2003, This is Nottingham, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH NOISE!
In reply to a letter written by J. Bowmar (Thursday, September 25).

If you live near a main road, the noise is constant. It is not just a noise from motorbikes, but all the other traffic.

Indeed, bikes seem to have slowed down since the council have altered the road, following the last motorbike fatality.

We all seem to be guilty of turning the other cheek. How many roadside floral tributes do we pass without so much as a second glance?

What is the point of making a machine that can travel at excess of twice the maximum of the speed limit?

And what about the noise of planes over East Midlands Airport?

I also read the trams are a bit noisy.

As to asking the neighbours if they mind me having a fireworks display, I always do.

They are usually with me watching anyway.

There are still a lot of people in Nottingham who enjoy fireworks and are law-abiding, responsible people.

I do feel there should be restrictions on the times that fireworks can be set off at night - maybe before the pubs close.
T. M, Carlton

September 29 2003,  ManchesterOnline - News, Court victory on fireworks thugs
TWO yobs who as part of a gang terrorised an estate using fireworks have been stopped in their tracks by the courts.
Daniel Robertson, 21, and a nineteen-year-old associate could be jailed for up to five years if they throw even a single banger.
Both men were given seven-point anti-social behaviour orders after a court heard how they brought misery to parts of Fallowfield, Manchester.
They were part of a 20-strong gang which was said to have hurled fireworks, racially abused Asian residents, smoked cannabis and brawled in the streets.
The ASBOs ban both men from throwing fireworks as well as threatening police officers, assembling in public with more than three people and using offensive language.
The decision will be seen as another victory for the city council's crusade against firework louts - a campaign backed by the Manchester Evening News.
Fallowfield residents, too terrified to give their names, told last night how the gang had systematically ruined their lives.

Scared
One elderly lady said: "Every night recently they have been letting off fireworks, sometimes until 2am. I have trouble walking and they throw bangers at the front door, but by the time you come out they have run away.
"I have dogs that go mad barking and the puppy is so scared now she starts trembling when a car door is banged. These kids have no respect for anyone and don't fear the law. It's like this with the fireworks every year from now until the New Year."
An Asian father told how fireworks were shoved through his letterbox and his 10-year-old son had been threatened with having his face "kicked in" on the way to school.
"The gangs come together every night with kids as young as twelve setting bins on fire and vandalising property," he said. "I'm sure somebody is going to get seriously hurt soon.
"I'm afraid to say anything to them or tell the police as they have made racist threats to us."
The ASBOs were obtained in Manchester magistrates' court after it emerged both men had substantial criminal records. Robertson has convictions for theft, public disorder, obstructing a police officer, handling stolen goods, stealing from a car and taking a motorbike without consent. He is already serving a jail sentence.
The 19-year-old - who the M.E.N. is not naming because he still faces an assault charge - has previously been hauled before the courts for theft, handling stolen goods and verbally abusing police officers outside his house.

Dreadful behaviour
He was caught wearing body armour when stopped by police last year and was convicted of causing criminal damage after defacing a prison cell wall.
ASBO proceedings against three other alleged gang members were adjourned while criminal cases run their course.
Basil Curley, the council's executive member for housing, said: "These men risk going to prison for up to five years if they persist in acting anti-socially in the slightest way.
"Residents in the area where they live have been exposed to dreadful behaviour for far too long and they deserve to be protected."
The M.E.N. has campaigned to protect people from the menace of fireworks abuse and have called for over-the-counter sales to be banned.
A pioneering Firework Bill will tighten the rules and ensure people can only buy in the weeks immediately around November 5.
The Bill is unlikely to become law until next Bonfire Night but the council has asked traders to sign up to a voluntary code saying they will not sell this year until October 15.
It has also formed a "hit squad" to crack down on unlicensed trade.

September 29 2003, Evening Chronicle, Shop bang to Rights
Man fined for selling fireworks to 12-year-old girl in undercover Trading Standards sting.
A shopkeeper who illegally sold fireworks to a 12-year-old girl has been fined £1,800 by Newcastle magistrates. Mohammed Saleem Awan, who owns Punshons Newsagents on Gosforth High Street, was caught selling fireworks in an undercover operation by Trading Standards last October.
A 12-year-old girl was sent in by officers and managed to buy a box of Shooting Stars worth £12.79.
Trading Standards Officers immediately approached Mr Awan who said the girl looked old enough and that he had not had time to ask her age.
But on Friday, magistrates found him guilty under the Firework Safety Regulations 1997 - part of the Consumer Protection Act. The sting happened on October 23 when Trading Standards officers Alastair Bradley and Dave Ellerington went with the 12-year-old girl to the shop.
Mr Bradley said: "I went into the shop ahead of the girl and waited for her to come in. She went to the counter and asked to buy some fireworks. "Mr Awan explained each of the boxes on the display. She chose a box of Shooting Stars and gave him £15 and he gave her some change."  Mr Awan, who represented himself, said: "The girl involved was wearing make Up and a big anorak so she looked old enough to buy the fireworks. "There is a sign by the display saying we don't sell to anyone under 18 and I thought she would have read that."
Magistrates fined him £1,800 and ordered him to pay £130 costs.

September 27 2003, This is Lancashire, Children to help trap illegal firework sellers
SHOPKEEPERS are being threatened with jail or heavy fines if they are caught selling fireworks to children as Trading Standards launch a new crackdown.
Officers will be testing to see if shopkeepers are following the law, which says no one aged under 18 is allowed to buy fireworks.
Children younger than the legal age are being sent to try and buy fireworks from shops across the country.
And if any are successful, shopkeepers caught face a six-month jail term or a maximum £6,000 fine.
The test purchasing will be conducted in areas where tip-offs have been received about illegal selling. Last year, just short of a third of shopkeepers tested in Lancashire sold fireworks to juveniles.
Principal officer Steve Brimble, said: "Every year there are complaints about fireworks being set off and affecting elderly people and people's pets.
"On top of that, there are the safety dangers. People setting fireworks off can cause a danger to themselves and a danger to others.
"We have identified that nuisance firework use is by juveniles so we have to get the message across to shopkeepers that they must not sell to the under 18s."

September 27 2003, This is Leicestershire, MEASURES PROPOSED TO TACKLE PROBLEMS
The Government has published a White Paper of measures designed to combat anti-social behaviour.

It proposes police and local authorities would have power to:

* Fine noisy neighbours £100 and confiscate stereos.

* Put problem council tenants on probation, which ends their "right to buy" and makes it easier to evict them.

* Designate areas in which intimidating gangs of youths can be sent away, and unaccompanied young children taken home.

* Close down noisy premises.

* Deal with parents who fail to control their disorderly children through parenting orders, parenting classes and, ultimately, fostering.

* Close and seal drug dens within 48 hours of a complaint.

* Remove automatic newspaper reporting restrictions on children, so young offenders could be identified if they breached behaviour orders. This would serve as a warning to others.

* Ban the sale of spray paints to under 18s, plus greater powers to deal with graffiti, litter, fly-tipping and fly-posting.

* Restrict the sale and misuse of fireworks.

* Ban air weapons and replica guns in public places and increase the age limit for owning air guns from 14 to 17.

* Tackle aggressive beggars.

September 27 2003, This is Leicestershire, NOISY LOOSE CANONS
Although it is great to hear that shopkeepers have stopped selling dreaded fireworks to the under-18s, it is the over-18s who are letting them off between midnight and 3am.

Fireworks - the pretty ones, we can accept, but it's the "canons" which have made all our lives Hell on Earth for months of each year.

Stop the import and sale of big bangers.
Mrs B F, Leicester.

September 27 2003, This is Nottingham, FIREWORK HORROR
A Family have spoken of their terror after a firework crashed through the front door of their home.

Ian Comery, 35, wife Lisa, 37, and children Jade, 15, and Nathan, 12, had been watching television less than an hour before the horrific incident on Thursday night.

Police were yesterday carrying out door-to-door enquiries near the family's home in Sleights Lane, Pinxton.

Mr Comery said: "I heard a whooshing sound and then there was a lot of banging and crashing downstairs.

"I had just gone upstairs to bed and Lisa was with the children. If we had been in the lounge someone could have died.

"I ran downstairs and there was carnage. The lounge carpet was on fire and there was smoke everywhere.

"I gathered Lisa and the children together and we ran out of the house and phoned the police.

"They came around within five minutes and recovered a stick that was attached to the rocket. It must have been three foot long.

"I've no idea who did this, but we have heard a lot of fireworks going off around here for the past couple of weeks."

Police believe the rocket was launched from close range.

As well as leaving a large hole in the Comery's front door, it caused thousands of pounds of damage to the lounge carpet, windows and cabinets.

Mrs Comery added: "There is a firework display in Pinxton this weekend and maybe someone stole some of the fireworks that were going to be used for that. Whoever has done this has got to be caught or someone could die or be very seriously hurt.

"It was like a bomb going off. I was frightened when it happened but now I'm just very angry."

Neighbours in the usually quiet village were stunned to hear news of the rocket attack.

William Wright, 68, said: "I heard a loud bang just before 11pm, but I had got so used to fireworks going off the past two weeks I thought little of it.

"It was only when the police knocked on my door that I knew something bad had happened."

Police are currently hunting young bomb-makers believed to be behind a high number of explosions in the Alfreton, South Normanton and Pinxton areas over the past few weeks.

They believe the explosions were probably being caused by teenagers detonating home-made explosives from recipes found on the internet.

A spokesman for Derbyshire County Council Trading Standards said they regularly use children to carry out test purchases of fireworks to root out shopkeepers breaking the law.

He added: "We had not been aware of a particular problem in the Pinxton area, but, after hearing what happened to this family, we will now be keeping a close eye on the area."

Anyone with information on the incident is being asked to phone DC Andy Richardson at Belper CID on 01773 571 878 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

September 27 2003, This is The North East, Mayor's firework plea to traders
A MAYOR has issued an appeal to traders to stop fireworks being sold to children.
Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond has written to about 60 shops in the town reminding them of the law and warning of tough action if they break it.
The letters have been issued in response to the many complaints about fireworks that are received every year by the council and the emergency services.
Mr Drummond said: "I want to make it as difficult as possible for fireworks to fall into the hands of children.
"Hopefully, this will reduce the risk of accidents occurring which could result in youngsters being badly hurt or even killed.
"While it is important to acknowledge the majority of retailers in the town comply with the law, there are still a number of outlets, both residential and commercial, that sell fireworks to children.
"The letters are designed to act as a reminder to traders of their legal duties, but also to make the point I will be ensuring the enforcement agencies take all the necessary steps to identify and prosecute those who choose to ignore the law.
"I would appeal to anyone who knows where fireworks are being sold to children to inform the proper authorities and maybe help save a life or prevent serious injuries."
Anyone with information should contact the trading standards department at the council on (01429) 523349 or call into the civic centre in Victoria Road.