New Firework Laws To Stop Big Bangers

12.16.02pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 31st Oct 2003

Next Wednesday's Guy Fawkes night is the last under current law. A new piece of legislation, backed through parliament by Vincent Cable MP comes into law shortly which will exercise tighter regulation over noise levels, periods when fireworks can be sold and will licence fireworks shops.

Shops like the temporary firework in London Road, Twickenham will be subject to tighter controls.

Vincent Cable MP said: "Guy Fawkes night can provide lots of innocent fun for families and I don't wish to be a killjoy. But noisy bangers cause great distress to animals, children and some elderly people. There is also too much anti social firework use by people letting off fireworks late at night and for weeks either side of November 5th. The new legislation will give the council's trading officers and in some cases, the police greater powers to act."

"If these new measures are not effective in preventing distress and anti social firework use there will be mounting pressure for an outright ban which I would request."