October 21 2003, BBC NEWS  England  Deadly trade in 'missing' fireworks
They are the size of footballs, crammed with gunpowder and can soar at 130mph.
Exploding at 1,000C, the rockets are just one type of the potentially-deadly style of fireworks being imported and sold illegally in the UK.
But officials say it is difficult to snuff out the trade in these devastating fireworks.
They claim thousands of the rockets are brought into the country to be sold on without proper controls.
A growing number of celebrations now demand pyrotechnic displays all year round resulting in a hugely expanded industry.
But recently the use of bigger, these more explosive devices have hit the headlines after being used in various incidents to destroy property from cars to telephone boxes.
While all fireworks pose a potential risk, the most powerful are those which are used by professional organisers of displays, such as shells. Their sale to the public is banned.
Special measures and equipment should be used to set off these fireworks according to Ron Rapley, technical director of UK firework distributors Black Cat Fireworks.
"Used in the wrong hands can be very dangerous, taking a life is possible," he warned.
Fireworks Act 2003  The government can:  impose a noise limit of 120 decibels  ban their use during anti-social hours  license people who sell fireworks  allow local authorities to refuse and revoke licenses  create a compulsory training course for operators of public firework displays  Consultations will take place next year on the draft regulations He said unregistered traders are understood to be responsible for the illegal availability of such fireworks in the UK.
Large consignments are believed to be being shipped in from China and sold to anyone who wants them.
Chief fire officer Barry O'Donnell of South Yorkshire Fire Service said: "It is only a matter of time before something goes wrong."
He said he feared for his firefighters entering buildings where fireworks were stored illegally.
"There are far too many people allowed access to them who don't know how to properly use them."
New legislation under the Fireworks Act gives the government power to tighten up on the sale and anti-social use of fireworks.
But chief superintendent Paul Forrester, of Merseyside Police reckons the problem is the imported fireworks which go "missing", which he believes could account for as much as 20% of the trade.
"The ports are typically receiving 40-feet-long container cargo's with a retail value of about £250,000," he said.
"These are being broken up into smaller amounts and sold from kitchens, gardens, or even the back of cars and vans.
He said officers had recently seized 92 crates of display fireworks discovered in a house along with illegal drugs and weapons. "A lot of the stuff was enough to take out a couple of houses," he said.
But Customs and Excise press officer David Zwiret said: "The vast majority of fireworks are legally licensed with storage available to them and are declared. They are not smuggled or illegal.
"We work closely with the Health and Safety Executive sharing information and have effective controls in place with evidence of where they go."
He admitted once the fireworks were inside the country customs had no responsibility for what happened to them.
Professionals are trained to use powerful fireworks Trading standards officer Nigel Houlston, from Telford & Wrekin Council, said they had good links with the public and legal traders who kept them informed of black market sales.
He said: "Shopkeepers know we are about, we visit every licensed and previously licensed firework sellers and tell then what our campaign is about."
He said he was disappointed the government had not yet created any regulations under the new act.
"Firework abuse is a nuisance which because it occurs only occasionally does take up Parliament's time, so it is left to local authorities to sweep up the mess and it is going to get worse," he said.
A spokeswoman from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said they were committed to implementing the act but admitted many of the new laws would not apply in time for this bonfire night.
She said the new rules governing public firework displays, importation of fireworks and training of display operators would not be started till after Christmas.

October 21 2003, BBC NEWS  England  Kent  Post office wrecked by firework
Kent post office has been severely damaged in an incident thought to have involved industrial strength fireworks.
The windows of the building in Borstal, near Rochester, were blown out in the attack, while the walls and roof were damaged.
It happened at about 2100 BST on Tuesday when a window was smashed and a large firework thrown inside.
Shop owner Bill Bhatia said he arrived on the scene to find the glass front of the shop completely broken, and smoke coming from inside it.
"It was really frightening," he said.
Three telephone boxes in Higham, Shorne and Rochester were also wrecked in similar incidents overnight.
Offenders 'will be jailed'
Over the past 10 days there have been a total of 14 attacks on telephone boxes and nine attacks on cars.
Kent Police say they are doing all they can to catch the vandals, and have brought in their serious crime squad to help.
14 telephone boxes have been damaged in the last 10 days Chief Inspector Des Keers said massive resources were being put into the investigation to ensure offenders were brought to justice.
"Once they're brought to justice we'll be looking at imposing a maximum prison sentence for these offences, without a doubt," he warned.
It is unclear where the high-powered fireworks are being bought.
Head of Trading Standards for Medway Council, Andy McGrath, said no illegal fireworks had been found at retail outlets across the Medway towns.
He said it was possible they had been bought over the internet, or even illegally imported from France.
"But in my experience the normal method is an illegal sale from the boot of a car," he said.
Mr McGrath warned people selling the fireworks to be very careful of whatever type they were selling as there was a risk of damage to property and loss of life.

October 21 2003, BBC NEWS  England  Merseyside  Inquiry into firework attacks
An full inquiry has begun in to a series of firework-related explosions on Merseyside.
Merseyside Police's major incident team has been brought in after explosions left one car destroyed, another six damaged, and more than 25 phone boxes vandalised.
Fireworks have also been launched in to a police station's inquiry office and a chip shop, causing considerable damage.
Investigators are attempting to establish whether there are any links between two explosions last weekend, and earlier incidents at a bar and a nightclub in Liverpool city centre.
The inquiry comes after Merseyside's chief constable, Norman Bettison, called for a ban on firework sales.
Mr Bettison wants new legislation introduced that will regulate the firework importation and their distribution in the UK.
Detective Superintendent Russ Walsh, who is heading the inquiry, said fireworks "in the wrong hands are a danger to the public".
"We are seeing a growing number of incidents where fireworks are being used to cause damage to telephone kiosks and post boxes," he said.
"This appears to be a national problem and not something which is confined to Merseyside.
"However, it now appears that fireworks are also being used in connection with more serious criminal activities."
The investigation is designed to complement high-profile police patrols and "disrupt criminal activity".
It comes after illegally distributed fireworks, worth an estimated £50,000, were seized from a house in north Liverpool last week, and the arrest of two teenagers, aged 14 and 16, on suspicion of firework misuse.
Merseyside Fire Service and trading standards officers have also teamed up with a responsible retailer scheme - "Good Guy" - to restrict firework sales, which nearly 80% of retailers have signed up to.

October 21 2003, Edinburgh Evening News, Fireworks vandals blow postbox apart
VANDALS have blown up a postbox with a firework as a wave of attacks in the run-up to Bonfire Night sweeps Lothian.
Officers were astonished when they turned up after receiving calls about a loud bang to find the heavy metal door of the postbox had been blown 20 feet by the force of the blast.  The incident in West Lothian comes as Lothian and Borders Police revealed they are already dealing with an increasing number of firework-related incidents across the region in the run-up to November 5. Officers have revealed they have been called out to 84 firework-related incidents since October 5.
And in a second incident last night, the vandals struck again and attempted to blow up another postbox in Mid Calder just after midnight.   All the mail inside the box was destroyed and residents told police they saw several cars drive away from the scene.
One woman who lives in Chapelton Terrace, Polbeth, where the first attack took place early yesterday morning, said: "We were asleep in bed when suddenly there was this tremendous bang. It was so loud I thought something had crashed and hit my car."
Police said the incident could have had far more serious consequences if someone had been walking past the box when it blew up.
In a separate incident, a 15-year-old boy has been charged with reckless conduct after throwing fireworks and rockets across roads in Livingston over the weekend.
And residents in Burdiehouse have called police on dozens of occasions about youths throwing fireworks at cars and in public areas.
Sergeant Chris Pagett, of Lothian and Borders Police, said the force had a number of firework initiatives taking place during a month-long crackdown. And he promised there would be a zero tolerance approach to anyone caught misusing fireworks.
He said: "We are still a couple of weeks away from Bonfire Night and already we are receiving calls from members of the public concerned about fireworks being thrown at people and objects. "In relation to the incident in Polbeth, the metal front of the postbox was blown some 20ft away by the extent of the blast and if anyone had been walking past the consequences could have been far more serious. "Whoever did this probably thought it would be funny but it was downright irresponsible."
He appealed for witnesses who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously to contact police.
Sgt Pagett added that community officers were talking to youngsters about the dangers. He said: "There is a drive to ensure not only children realise the potential dangers, but also that retailers are aware that by selling them to youngsters they are breaking the law. "We will push to make sure anyone committing offences regarding fireworks is reported."
Roger Vincent, of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, warned that youngsters faced severe injury or disfigurement through firework misuse. He said: "People seem to be ignoring the warnings, but it all goes back to the fact that someone is giving fireworks to children, either an irresponsible parent or shopkeeper, and they should realise the possible consequences of that."
As part of the crackdown, shops and storage units are being inspected by trading standards officers and police to ensure:
Fireworks are stored correctly and do not pose a risk to staff or the public.
Prohibited fireworks are not being sold.
Retailers are aware of their responsibility to ensure fireworks are not sold to anyone under 18.
Last month, MPs at Westminster, including Edinburgh MP Mark Lazarowicz, agreed to a crackdown on the sale of fireworks.   The general sale of fireworks outside the run-up to Bonfire Night will be restricted and the late night detonation of the noisiest devices prevented.
There will be tight controls on the import of fireworks in a move aimed at stamping out the illegal sale and use of large rockets manufactured in the Far East, and new powers to allow local authorities to refuse irresponsible retailers' licences to sell fireworks.

October 21 2003, ic Liverpool - Car blasts in city
TWO terrifying car explosions in quiet family streets are the latest attacks in an escalating gangland feud.
The blasts, which sent shrapnel flying through the air, mark a step-up in an underworld campaign of terror.
A BMW five series was destroyed and two other cars damaged in an attack in Bulford Road, Fazakerley.
Around 40 police officers and an army bomb disposal unit attended the incident on the Sparrow Hall estate at around 12.50am yesterday (Monday, October 20) morning.
Detectives believe an industrial firework was used in the attack and are investigating whether a firework was turned into a home-made bomb.
A neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "There was this huge explosion which sent smoke up into the air.  "The car was totally destroyed. Another car nearby was also badly damaged. There was glass and debris everywhere."
The blast followed a car explosion in Sandfield Walk, West Derby, on Friday night which hurled debris into neighbouring houses and gardens.
Both attacks are being linked to a blast outside the 051 night club in Liverpool city centre and a nail bomb which was thrown inside the Dickie Lewis pub in Walton.
It is believed high-powered fireworks were used in all the attacks.
Merseyside Police has called upon its a Force Major Incident Team - usually reserved for murder inquiries - to investigate the explosions.
Det Supt Russ Walsh said: "Fireworks in the wrong hands are a danger to the public.  "It now appears that fireworks are also being used in connection with more serious criminal activities. "That is why the FMIT has been brought in to continue the investigation."

October 21 2003, News Shopper, Firework Attack Arrests
A SERIES of arrests have been made on a troubled estate following a spate of attacks using high-powered fireworks.  After several explosions last week on the King's Farm Estate, in Gravesend, police chiefs ordered a significant number of officers to enforce a crackdown.
The operation began on October 13 and police had made more than 20 arrests by the time News Shopper went to press. Youths and adults were arrested for theft, shoplifting, assaulting a police officer and public order offences.
The crackdown followed five attacks in which industrial-strength display fireworks were used to damage phone boxes and several cars on October 12 and 13.
A spokesman for north Kent police said: "We are taking co-ordinated and concerted action to end this spate of incidents.  "Our overarching concern is for the safety of the public. Those people who set off these fireworks put them at risk.  "Officers are also taking the opportunity to make proactive arrests on a number of warrants." Call north Kent police on 01474 331055 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 with information.

October 21 2003, Sheffield Today, Firework Explosion wrecks police base
FIREWORK vandals have wrecked a police station just days after the South Yorkshire force asked the Government for an emergency ban on the explosives.
Mosborough section station, used by community-based officers was so badly damaged, with doors ripped off and a ceiling brought down, it could not be used and will cost thousands of pounds to repair.
And within the last 24 hours a van parked on Andover Street, Burngreave, was blown apart in a blast blamed on a firework. Its windscreen was catapulted 20 yards and the rear doors ripped from their hinges.
The incidents are the latest in a catalogue of potentially fatal explosions causing extreme concern for authorities across South Yorkshire. Police have responded by launching Operation Mischief, which uses officers normally working on desk duties to mount extra patrols in areas where yobs are thought most likely to strike.
The attack on Mosborough section station happened overnight while the building, on Rotherham Road, Halfway, was unoccupied. Community officers who normally work from the building have had to move elsewhere until builders can repair the damage and detectives are now investigating.
Insp Dick Dove said: "The community team is very upset and disappointed by the incident. They have been going about their duties from Moss Way police station but will return as soon as possible.
"Quite apart from causing thousands of pounds of damage, this incident - and any misuse of fireworks - has the potential to seriously injure both the passers by and the perpetrators.
"If anyone has any information at all, I'd urge them to contact Moss Way CID on Sheffield 2202020," he said.

October 21 2003, The News & Star, VANDALS TURNING POST BOXES INTO 'GRENADES'
PRANKSTERS who have been lighting fireworks and dropping them in post boxes are running the risk of receiving hand grenade-style injuries, Cumbria police warned today.
A spate of incidents in the past fortnight has seen red pillar boxes in the Carlisle area burnt or destroyed by high-power fireworks.  But police say potentially life-threatening injuries could be inflicted on those responsible - or on innocent passers-by - because of metal debris flying from an exploding post box.
Officers today pledged to hunt down the people responsible for setting off a firework in a post box in Dalston at the weekend. The incident followed two similar ones last week.
Police spokesman Mike Head said: "One of these days, someone is going to end up with a chunk of metal in their head.  "The nature of these fireworks are such that the box itself can be blown to bits.  "Because many are made of cast iron, this could be very dangerous. Kids that do this really are putting themselves at risk.  "It may appear as just a prank, but it is incredibly dangerous. We would encourage parents to warn their children about this."
On October 12, boxes in Cumdivock and Harker had also been targeted. It is believed the vandals then rummaged through the post, opening letters. The offenders may have used vehicles.
Firework-related incidents are on the increase. Penrith police have stepped up patrols after reports of youths throwing fireworks out of cars, and attacks on phone boxes.
Last week prime minister Tony Blair called on shopkeepers to implement voluntarily new regulations coming into force soon on the sale of fireworks.  The new laws will restrict the sale of the most powerful air bombs and mortars. Anyone with information about the attacks should contact police on 01768 891999.
Should the general public be banned from buying high-power fireworks? Call our Talkback line on 01228 612300.

October 21 2003, This is North Scotland - news, BAN SALE OF FIREWORKS, SAYS COUNCILLOR
A North-east councillor believes a sales ban is the only way to stop firework hooligans plaguing a Buchan port.
Fraserburgh West member Brian Topping said last night the number of incidents in the town had reached "ridiculous" levels.  He hit out after Grampian Police revealed that half of all scares involving bangers and rockets in the force's area over the past three days had happened in the Broch.
Police were called to Hamilton Road at the weekend after a postbox door was blown off by a powerful squib.
A firework was pushed through the letter box of a house in Academy Road.  And a 19-year-old man was taken to Fraserburgh Hospital and transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with burns to his arm, legs and groin after fireworks went off in a house in Main Street.
Police have pleaded with local parents not to buy fireworks for their children, and warned that anyone caught selling or supplying them to people under 18 will be prosecuted.  But Mr Topping, who chairs Fraserburgh and District Community Safety Group, said: "I think the only solution is to ban the sale of these things to the general public.  "A properly-organised display can be a spectacular and enjoyable event, and I think fireworks should only be sold to groups and organisations who are holding displays.  "People could be registered with the local authority and given training, and that way we could really reduce the risk of a serious accident happening.  "It sounds like a drastic thing to suggest, but the fact is there are irresponsible people who are spoiling it for everyone else and there seem to be more of them around.  "I can't remember a year when the problem was as bad as it is in the Broch just now.  "Fireworks are being let off all day, not just at night."
Eighteen months ago, Central Buchan councillor Stan Tennant tried to persuade Aberdeenshire Council to introduce a by-law banning the sale of fireworks.  He was backed by Mr Topping, but councillors voted 42 to 24 against the move. 
Fraserburgh-based Inspector Gus McGougan said the majority of incidents he and his officers had been called to involved youths and children.  He said: "I can only conclude they are being given fireworks by irresponsible parents to let off unsupervised, or that people who are over 18 years of age are purchasing them and giving them to children." 
The safety group has run a series of campaigns with local primary schools to try to educate youngsters about the dangers of fireworks.

October 21 2003, Yorkshire Today, Hooligans face crackdown
ANYONE caught damaging council property in Rotherham can expect to face tough action from the courts and local authority.
The warning comes from Rotherham Council chiefs after severe damage was caused to a home on Maltby's Birks Holt estate when a lit firework was apparently left in a porch.
A letter has been sent to all residents on the estate stating that in addition to police action, Rotherham Council will pursue anti-social behaviour orders against offenders.
If the culprits are children of council tenants then action will be taken against their parents as it will be considered a breach of the authority's tenancy agreement.
Sue Ellis, Rotherham Council's cabinet member for housing and environment services, said although the majority of young people were not causing problems a minority were using fireworks to "cause grief".
She said: "Although the new Fireworks Act is not operational this year, Rotherham Council is doing all it can to alleviate the problems caused by the misuse of fireworks each year and is also working hard to get effective regulations for next year.
"Bonfire Night can and should be an enjoyable occasion for all the family. However, the authority will not hesitate in taking action against those who decide not to use their fireworks safely and sensibly."
Housing officers say that they do not want to be seen as killjoys but they have been forced to act because the Maltby incident could have put lives at risk.
Rotherham's trading standards and environmental health officers have implemented a series of initiatives to clamp down on the misuse of fireworks.
Premises registered to store fireworks are being visited along with some that are not registered. Safety information is being distributed to schools, health and safety guidance is being given to organisers of public bonfires and noise nuisance is being investigated by environmental health officers.

October 20 2003, Evening Chronicle, Crackdown on fireworks
Shopper watchdogs are targeting people who sell fireworks from their homes. In a joint operation with Northumbria Police and Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, Trading Standards officers are stressing that only people who are registered with the Trading Standards department and satisfy stringent storage conditions can legally sell fireworks.

October 20 2003, Hounslow Guardian, Stray Firework May Have Caused Fire At Property
A STRAY firework is believed to have caused a blaze which destroyed a workshop and garage, in Hounslow, this week, and led to 200 people being evacuated from their homes in the early hours of the morning.
Fire crews from Heston, Feltham and Twickenham were called to a property in Lyncroft Gardens, Hounslow, on Monday, October 13.
Nearby residents were evacuated while firefighters battled the flames coming from a private motorcycle workshop, from 11.30pm to 1.20am.
Liquid propane cylinders at the property, which can explode and be launched through the air, if over-heated, hampered their operation.
A group of youths were seen playing with fireworks in a nearby alleyway moments before the garage went up in flames, and police were also called to the scene.
The cause of the fire is now under investigation.
Fears have now been raised, however, that more fires may break out across the borough with Bonfire Night approaching, and fire officers warned people to be responsible when using fireworks, and for shopkeepers not to sell them to underage teenagers.
Heston station commander, George Hind, said: "The fireworks season is here again, and, once more, we urge people to take care when using fireworks." Leading firefighter, Nick Burge, added: "It's the first incident involving fireworks this year, but we expect more as we approach November 5."

October 20 2003, ic Coventry - Luxury car is set alight
Arsonists caused thousands of pounds of damage when they set fire to a garage containing a Range Rover in Coventry.
Fire crews from Foleshill were called out to the blaze, in Silverdale Close, Alderman's Green, at midday yesterday.
Station officer Bob Mount said: "The garage is severely damaged and totally gutted.
"It was set away from houses and we have not been able to find out who it belongs to yet.
"The neighbours did not know either.
"Some of the residents said children have been playing with fireworks in the area.
"We don't know that is what caused it, but it is a possibility."

October 20 2003, ic Coventry - 'Someone could have been killed'
A bus service catering for the elderly and disabled in Nuneaton could be withdrawn after gangs of tear-aways attacked it with bricks and missiles.
The Camp Hill Accessible Transport (Chat) service, run jointly by Stagecoach and Warwick-shire County Council, was rounding the corner of Victoria Road, in Chapel End, when the gang began hurling objects at it at about 10.30pm on Saturday.
Two windows and a door on one side were shattered and Stagecoach manager Bill Breen said
that if a passenger had been sitting on that side they could have been killed.
All services in Chapel End were cancelled for the remainder of Saturday night.
Now Mr Breen has claimed that the problem is getting so bad that they are considering cancelling the service completely.
He said: "We have been having a problem for a few weeks with a gang of youths aged between 12 and 16. Every time a bus goes past they have been lobbing missiles.
"The Chat service is designed for the elderly and disabled. If somebody had been sitting on that side God knows what could have happened.
"Our priority is the safety of our staff and passengers. It would be better for them to lose the service than lose their lives." Mr Breen is still hopeful that by working with the police the problem can be eradicated. When the service faced similar trouble in the Grove Farm area back in January extra police patrols solved it "almost overnight".
He said: "We are hoping that we can sort this out without having to pull the service."
Last week passengers narrowly escaped injury after yobs hurled a firework down the aisle of a double-decker bus in Coventry.
The explosive ricocheted down the Travel West Midlands vehicle, coming to rest after it struck the leg of a woman.
The incident in Hillfields was one of two on the same night. Yobs also fired a firework at a bus as it passed a city school.

October 20 2003, ic Huddersfield - `Quake' was arson attack on car
AN arson attack on a car prompted fears of an earthquake in Bradley.
Several people contacted the Examiner with one woman saying a "huge shake" almost knocked her off her feet at about 11pm on Friday night.
"I waited 10 minutes to check everything was all right and then contacted the police. They said I was the second person to ring from Bradley," she said.
But it is believed she felt the force of a firework attack on a car in the area.
The VW Passat car, which was parked in Sherwood Avenue, was destroyed by the fire.
It is believed to have been started by a large display type firework being placed underneath.
A police spokeswoman said they were investigating the blaze which was attended by Huddersfield firefighters.
A spokesman from the seismology department at the British Geological Survey offices in Edinburgh said it had no recordings of an earthquake in the Huddersfield area on Friday night.

October 20 2003, ManchesterOnline - News, Police chiefs unite against firework blight
TOP policemen from across the region have joined in the call for a curb on the sale of lethal high-explosive fireworks.

Cars and property have been destroyed in recent "bomb'' attacks and it is only luck that no one has been injured.

Today police chiefs in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside united in calling for a ban on sales to the public.

Norman Bettison, Chief Constable of Merseyside, was the first to make the call after a series of events in Liverpool, including two potentially fatal explosions at nightclubs.

Cheshire's Peter Fahey added: "In this day and age there is no justification for powerful fireworks to be on public sale."

Key symptoms
And GMP's Assistant Chief Constable Ian Seabridge said: "We totally support these views on fireworks and this robust approach.

"The misery and injury caused by fireworks each year is significant. The fear they instil within our communities is one of the key symptoms of anti-social behaviour, something that police forces are working hard to rid."

Manchester has suffered badly in the past from firework "bombs".

And in the past week two cars have been blown up in Runcorn, and in Merseyside there have been 26 explosions in telephone kiosks.

The M.E.N. has been campaigning for over-the-counter sales of fireworks to be replaced by sales only to people licensed to use them at organised displays.

October 20 2003, Merseyside Police News, Arrest in Aigburth Over Fireworks
At approximately 7.30 on Friday 17th October  a 14-year-old youth from the Aigburth area was arrested following an incident which involved the deliberate firing of a rocket-type firework across both carriageways of Aigburth Road. The firework hit the road of the in the city-bound carriageway, forcing vehicles to brake.
The incident was seen by police officers and a 14-year-old youth was arrested nearby.

October 19 2003, The Independent, Huge increase in black market fireworks
More than 2,000 tons of fireworks are being sold illegally in Britain, part of a growing black market in illicit explosives being targeted by police.

October 18 2003, BBC NEWS  Merseyside  Car explodes in firework attack
A car has been destroyed in an explosion caused by a firework in Liverpool.
The firework was aimed at a car at about 0100 BST on Saturday in Sandfield Walk in West Derby. It hit the fuel tank which then exploded.
The attack comes after the chief constable of Merseyside Police called for a total ban on firework sales.
The explosion also damaged a nearby house, but no-one was injured.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Naylor from Merseyside Police said: "We are thankful no-one was hurt during this powerful explosion which we believe was be caused by fireworks.
"This just reinforces the need expressed by the chief constable this week for the stricter regulation of the importation and distribution of high powered fireworks capable of causing destruction like this."
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested after a firework was let off on a busy dual carriageway on Friday evening.
Police saw a youth let off a firework across Aigburth Road.
Vehicles had to break suddenly as the firework struck the city-bound carriageway several times.
The teenager has been released on police bail.
Steep rise
Earlier this week, Merseyside chief Norman Bettison called for the ban amid the rising number of attacks.
Mr Bettison said it is the only way to "deprive criminals and young thugs of their availability".
In recent weeks, there has been a steep rise across the region in the number of incidents involving fireworks.
They range from youngsters throwing them in the street, to criminals adapting them to use as makeshift bombs.
Up to 26 telephone kiosks have been targeted by vandals across Merseyside as well as six cars, in recent weeks, including one outside a nightclub on Mount Pleasant.
In one attack, a police officer was injured when a firework was thrown at a police station.
Mr Bettison said new legislation could have a "dramatic impact" on the distribution of fireworks, which can prove fatal.

October 18 2003, BBC NEWS  South Yorkshire  Raid uncovers huge fireworks haul
Seven tons of allegedly illegal fireworks have been discovered during a raid in South Yorkshire.
Fire and police officers acted after a tip-off that the fireworks were being stored at a scrap yard in Boulder Bridge Lane, Carlton, Barnsley.
The raid was part of Operation Mischief which was launched this week to combat anti-social behaviour and specifically the misuse of fireworks.
The huge haul includes three-feet high rockets and other fireworks usually used in organised public displays.
Pornographic DVDs, counterfeit clothing, 40,000 cigarettes and more than 300 bottles of whisky and wine were also recovered.
Officers are still trying to establish whether or not the fireworks meet British manufacturing standards, but say the premises was unlicensed to store them.
No arrests have been made.
Divisional officer Mark Shaw, of South Yorkshire Fire Service, said: "We found about seven tons of fireworks.
"That's a significant seizure when you think that a shipping container takes about 15 tonnes.
"I am sure there will be more out there, but the public can be sure we will enforce the law vigorously."
Officials from Customs and Excise, Trading Standards and the Inland Revenue also took part in the raid on Friday.
A police spokeswoman said: "This was a collaborative effort and part of the multi-agency Operation Mischief to combat antisocial behaviour in South Yorkshire."

October 18 2003, ic Wales - Life imprisonment warning to firework throwers
POLICE have warned that people involved in throwing powerful fireworks into shops could face life imprisonment under the Explosives Act.
Police in Swansea were called to two separate incidents this week within 10 minutes of each other in which powerful display fireworks were tossed into shops in Penlan.
Scenes of crime officers are now examining the remains of the fireworks and CCTV images are being looked at.
Damage was caused to the shops but fortunately no injuries occurred to customers or staff.
Two people were seen leaving the area, travelling along Pentregethin Road in a black car.
The vehicle did not have its lights on.
A police spokesman said, "These crimes are very serious and the culprits, if found, could face life imprisonment under the Explosives Act.
"These incidents come after a number of others involving fireworks across the force area and this behaviour will not be tolerated."

October 17 2003, BBC NEWS  Wales  Tonnes of illegal fireworks seized
The biggest haul of illegal fireworks ever to be tracked down has been discovered in south Wales.
The 60- tonne stockpile was seized in Cardiff on Friday by police and trading standard officers.
It is thought that it was imported from the Far East and was about to be sold on the black market in the run up to bonfire night.
The haul amounts to more than all the fireworks for the official Millennium celebrations in London and Sydney combined.
Swoop
Officers from South Wales Police and officials from trading standards swooped in the Wentloog, Ely and Canton areas of Cardiff and found the fireworks in huge containers.
There is a danger that children would have got hold of them  Spokesman from Cardiff Council A Cardiff Council spokesman said: "The worry is where the fireworks were bound for and whose hands they could have ended up in.
"There is a danger that children would have got hold of them."
Police have begun an investigation to discover exactly how the fireworks were brought into Britain.
Chief Inspector Graham McCarthy said: "People have been interviewed in relation to the seizures of large quantities of commercial fireworks.
"Fireworks are there for people to enjoy but they must be aware of the safety issues.
"They can be extremely dangerous if they are not stored properly."
Last year, 70 people were injured by fireworks in Wales.
Across the UK last year, there were 1,017 injuries. Although the number reported fell by a quarter, hospitals still treated 88 children under the age of five, and 132 people were injured by sparklers.

October 17 2003, Evening Chronicle, Black market firework danger
ONE in 10 fireworks being set of on Tyneside will have been bought on the black market.  Up to 200 tonnes of explosives, more than 10 lorry loads, will have been imported into the North East by bootleggers by November 5, claims the British Fireworks Association (BFA). 
BFA chairman John Woodhead said: "The North East is as bad as any place in the country when it comes to illegally selling fireworks.  "We have to kill that market once and for all and to do that we need people to tell the police about the black market traders."  Under a voluntary agreement, licensed retailers didn't stock fireworks on their shelves until Monday, although legally they can be sold year round.  Mr Woodhead said: "Illegal fireworks will not have had any safety testing carried out on them and in case of injury. there is almost certainly no product liability insurance."

October 17 2003, ic Liverpool - Firework ban plan gets backing
CHIEF constable Norman Bettison today (Friday, October 17) received the backing of neighbouring police forces for his call for firework ban.
Senior officers in Cheshire and Manchester joined his campaign to urge home secretary David Blunkett to ban selling or buying fireworks without a licence.
Mr Bettison is preparing a catalogue of firework related incidents to present to the Home Office after Bonfire Night.
Assistant chief constable Ian Seabridge of Greater Manchester police said: "We totally support Merseyside police's robust approach and views on fireworks. The misery and injury caused by fireworks each year is significant.
"The fear they instil within our communities is one of the key symptoms of anti-social behaviour, something both the Greater Manchester police and Merseyside police are working hard to rid."
Peter Fahy, chief constable of Cheshire, said: "In this day and age there is no justification for powerful fireworks to be on sale.
"There are very many public displays that allow people to celebrate November 5 without putting anyone in danger and without being a nuisance and concern in residential areas."
Mr Bettison has revealed that in the past two weeks 27 telephone boxes and six cars have been destroyed in firework attacks.
The wide-scale misuse of industrial size fireworks has been unique to Liverpool this year.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said there had been only one serious firework related incident in the capital in the last fortnight.
A police officer in Bexley, south London, was injured after he was attacked by a firework while on patrol.
The incident was deemed serious enough to call in a specialist SO13 anti-terrorism squad.

October 17 2003, ManchesterOnline - News, Police chief's firework plea
A SENIOR police chief has boosted the Manchester Evening News' campaign for a total ban on over-the-counter sales of fireworks by challenging the Home Secretary about the issue.

Norman Bettison, the chief constable of Merseyside Police, has called for a total ban on the sale of fireworks. Mr Bettison has urged David Blunkett to allow sales of pyrotechnics only to people holding a special licence.

When the M.E.N. canvassed 53 chief constables in the UK last year about whether they backed the campaign, Mr Bettison said he supported a partial ban on the public sale of fireworks - but now he has gone further and appealed for an all-out ban.

Mr Bettison said: "I support the Manchester Evening News campaign for the retail control of fireworks. I would like to urge the Home Secretary to only permit the sale of fireworks to those with a special licence, to clamp down on the illegal use of fireworks."

He has spoken out because in recent weeks 27 telephone boxes and six cars have been targeted in firework attacks in his area.

Problem
He has vowed to hand a dossier of incidents to the government to back his plea and has described the amount of time police spend tackling the problem as "criminal".
He said: "I have been a police officer for 31 years and have never known a year like this one.

"Why don't we just change the law to deprive criminals and thugs of their availability?"

Mr Bettison said £10m of Chinese explosives are being smuggled through the southern port of Felixstowe every day.

Manchester's Chief Constable Mike Todd supports the M.E.N. call for a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public except for people holding approved organised displays.

Police are appealing for help in tracing a large number of display fireworks which could be offered to the public.

It follows a raid on Wednesday by police and trading standards officers on a shop in the East ward area of Bury in which they seized a large quantity of fireworks.

A 38-year-old man was arrested and is currently on bail.

October 17 2003, ManchesterOnline - News, Rocket terror attack on home
A DOWN'S Syndrome boy and his family have been targeted by youths who fired super-strength fireworks at their windows in a terrifying attack.

A massive rocket smashed into the kitchen window of 11-year-old Marcus Slater's home. A second firework was let off in the doorway, sending sparks through the letter box and into the hallway.

Marcus was left in extreme pain caused by the noise because his ears are particularly sensitive to loud sounds as a result of his condition.

The attack happened at the family home in Chartwell Close, Salford, as Marcus sat in a back room with his family, including sister Amelia.

Terrible
Today, Marcus's mum Janet backed the Manchester Evening News campaign calling for an all-out ban on over-the-counter sales of fireworks to stop the menace caused in neighbourhoods.

The 50-year-old engineer, who gave up her job to look after her son, said: "The noise was terrible. Luckily, we were in the back room and not the kitchen. I am terrified of staying here in case there is another attack.

"Afterwards I took the firework shells to the social services and housing department to show them that I desperately needed to be re-housed, but they said it could take a month. I am petrified at what may happen next."

The family has lived at the address since late last year and have been targeted a number of times with eggs and bricks thrown at the windows.

October 17 2003, Scotsman.com News,  Homes Evacuated after Pipe Bombs Found
Around 60 homes were evacuated during an overnight bomb scare in west Belfast.  Army bomb disposal experts were called to St James Avenue to deal with two pipe bombs.  The devices and other items were taken away for further examination.  There was also a security alert in Ballymena, Co Antrim, late last night.  Bomb disposal experts were summoned to Demesne Avenue, near Cairnduff Drive, following an explosion in a phone box.  Police said a "large firework type" device exploded near a technical college in the town.

October 16 2003, BBC NEWS  England  Kent  Firework attacks continuing
Kent police investigating damage caused by "industrial strength" fireworks say there have been two more incidents, bringing the total number since the weekend to seven.
On Wednesday afternoon, Medway Police were called to a telephone box damaged by fireworks in Lords Wood Lane, Chatham, Kent.
It followed another incident in the early hours of Tuesday where fireworks were let off in a Skoda car that had been parked in Sunridge Drive, Walderslade.
The attacks began in Gravesend on Sunday night when a phone box and a car were badly damaged.
They were swiftly followed by another three incidents in the town on Monday - damaging two more vehicles and another phone box.
'Acts of mindless vandalism'
Officers are investigating the incidents in connection with a series of cases across the county.
DCI Matthew Nix said: "We have been extremely fortunate that no one has been injured in these totally reckless and dangerous acts of mindless vandalism.
"We are very aware of the impact on the community of this kind of event.
"We would like residents to be reassured that we are carrying out extensive enquiries and are currently following up a number of leads in order to bring a halt to these incidents."
Police said each time the fireworks used appeared to be intended for trade-use only.
Mr Nix said Kent Police urgently needed to know where the fireworks were coming from, who was distributing them, where they were being stored and who was carrying out the explosions.
An 18-year-old man from Gravesend arrested following Sunday's damage was released on bail on Monday, pending further inquiries.

October 16 2003, BBC NEWS  Merseyside  Ban fireworks says police chief
Merseyside's chief constable is calling for a total ban on firework sales amid growing safety fears.
Norman Bettison says it is the only way to "deprive criminals and young thugs of their availability".
In recent weeks, there has been a steep rise across the region in the number of incidents involving fireworks.
They range from youngsters throwing them in the street, to criminals adapting them to use as makeshift bombs.
Up to 26 telephone kiosks have been targeted by vandals across Merseyside as well as six cars, in recent weeks, including one outside a nightclub on Mount Pleasant.
'Firework abuse'
Merseyside Police are concerned that large consignments of fireworks are being shipped into the UK from China before being sold by unregistered outlets.
Mr Bettison will present a dossier of all incidents to home secretary David Blunkett in an attempt to get a sales ban for anyone without a special licence.
Mr Bettison said: "We're dealing with three different types of firework abuse here.
"The first type involves kids getting their hands on fireworks and throwing them in the street, which distresses and alarms many people.
'Low grade explosives'
"The second involves vandals putting what can only be described as explosive devices in telephone kiosks, post boxes and cars to cause destruction to property and putting the lives of passers by at risk.
"The third firework threat we're facing and rigorously investigating is even more sinister - criminals using the contents of fireworks to produce low grade explosives."
Mr Bettison said new legislation could have a "dramatic impact" on the distribution of fireworks, which can prove fatal.

October 16 2003, BBC NEWS   Northamptonshire  Firework set off in shop
A Co-op supermarket has been damaged by a firework at Irchester in Northamptonshire.
Police said the firework was thrown into the shop floor area of the High Street store at about 2145 BST on Wednesday.
The firework exploded into a magazine display case, sending large pieces of plastic flying around the shop and setting some magazines alight.
The youth who threw the firework was seen to run off and police said although a member of the public gave chase, he managed to escape.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Wellingborough Police.

October 16 2003, Daily Record - RECORD PETS CRASH BANG WALLOP TIME
BAD news this week. The F-word is back. As usual, it appears when you least expect it.  It pops up at any time, day or night, for no apparent reason and for no just cause.  It is greatly abused by the under-aged and it assaults our ears and insults our sensibility.
Now, while I believe there is a time and a place for everything, this random smattering of the F-word, used totally out of context, is frankly unacceptable in modern society.
That's because the F-word is fireworks. Yes, they're back big time and you don't need to be a rocket scientist to know that virtually every crash, bang and wallop you hear is created by a child who is too young to be in possession of a potentially-lethal incendiary device.
Even owners with the most firework-phobic pets accept that a noisy celebration, once a year on November 5, would be bearable.  What we have is a random crescendo of whistles and bangs that strikes fear in the hearts of one in five dogs.  This fear is manifest in a number of ways. The least affected individuals tend to pace, tremble, cower and seek the owner's attention while a high-intensity fear response is indicated by whining, panting, salivating, eliminating, running and trying to escape. Destructive behaviour is also common, with some dogs literally chewing through walls in a futile attempt to hide from the source of their terror.
Unfortunately, the haphazard discharging of fireworks makes the situation much worse.  Dogs spend weeks on tenterhooks, waiting for the next bang. Many will flatly refuse to go out.  In some cases a door banging is enough to send them into a frenzy.  Frequently owners resort to the long-term use of sedatives, believing them to reduce their dogs' anxiety, when in reality all they do is paralyse their pet, preventing them from responding violently but doing nothing to reduce the fear.
At last, however, there is hope. The Fireworks Bill, a Private Member's Bill lodged at Westminster by Bill Tynan, MP, and supported by the Government, received its third reading on June 13.  It would provide powers for the UK Government to make regulations concerning the supply of fireworks.
It would give powers to licence both suppliers of fireworks and the operators of pyrotechnic displays. I am delighted it has been agreed that, once it is passed, the Scottish Executive will implement the Bill.
While the Bill won't quite make the F-word a thing of the past, it should ensure that it is only used appropriately and at a time when it is unlikely to cause offence.

October 16 2003, ic CheshireOnline - Street shook by firework blast
A HOUSEHOLDER was shocked and stunned when yobs blew her wheelie bin to pieces with an industrial-strength firework.
The blast was so strong that the bin was torn in half and the lid blown into 12 pieces, which were flung up to 50 yards from the site of the explosion.
On the same night, a car was written off just doors away when a firework was placed under the driver's seat.
The windows were blown out by the blast.
Firefighters have said it is a 'miracle' that a passer-by was not killed or horrifically injured by the prank on Thursday.
Flo Woodward, of Heath View Road, Widnes, told the Weekly News that the full extent of the danger was not realised until a neighbour across the road found that a shard of plastic shrapnel had smashed through her gutter.
Flo said: 'We had left the bin out and at about 10.35pm the whole house shook. We thought we would find a massive crash outside or a big explosion at one of the factories or even thought it might be some kind of earthquake.

October 16 2003, ManchesterOnline - News, Firework horror of deaf couple
A DEAF elderly couple have spoken of their horror when a firework was thrown through the front door of their flat by yobs.

John Johnson and his wife Doreen were about to sit down to dinner at their home in Dukinfield when the doorbell rang.

John opened the door to be confronted by two youths who threw a blazing firework at him.

The firework - a Roman candle - burnt his face and ricocheted around the living room of the flat, burning the door, ceiling, walls and windows, and nearly hit Doreen in the head.

Emergency services took John to Tameside General Hospital suffering from minor burns and severe swelling to the left side of his face.

Now grandparents John and Doreen are backing the MEN's campaign for an all-out ban on over-the-counter sales of fireworks.

John, who will celebrate his 66th birthday next week, said: "It was absolutely horrifying, I'm just glad we were not more seriously hurt.

"I couldn't believe it, I just opened the door and there were two lads with this firework. Before I knew it they had thrown the firework at me and it was darting all around the room, burning everything it touched."

Doreen, 60, said: "I completely agree with the campaign to ban the over-the-counter sales of fireworks. What happened to us was shocking, children should not be playing with fireworks but I am just thankful John was not more seriously hurt."

Margaret Lennard, 45, who acts as a carer for John and Doreen, said she was appalled at what had happened.

Callous
She said: "I'm shocked and disgusted. It's unbelievable to think that someone would want to do this. John and Doreen have had problems in the past with kids because they see that they are deaf and enjoy making fun of them."

The incident happened around 4.30pm yesterday. Two 15-year-old boys were last night arrested.

The attack was branded "callous" and "despicable" by police today.

Det Insp Derek Weaver, of Stalybridge CID, said: "This shows what happens when fireworks get into the wrong hands. This was a despicable and callous act and could have been far more serious."

In another incident in Elizabeth Street, Cheetham Hill, two boys aged 14 and 17, suffered cuts and burns to the face and body when a firework they were playing exploded.
The M.E.N. revealed yesterday how the government is rushing through a crackdown on firework louts in time for New Year's Eve, following the success of our campaign.
The move came after Tony Blair threw his weight behind the crusade for greater fireworks control - which MPs and councillors say is a major public concern.

The three-point plan - revealed to the MEN by Home Office minister and Salford MP Hazel Blears - will be in place before Christmas and makes it an offence for under 18s to possess fireworks.

There will also be a curfew on using fireworks after 11pm and a complete ban on air bomb sales.

The MEN has campaigned for a ban on over-the-counter sales of fireworks.

October 16 2003, Merseyside Police News, Chief Constable Calls for Fireworks Ban
Firework Incidents to date
Telephone Kiosks - 30,   Vehicles - 34,  Buildings/Dwellings -17,   Post Boxes -10
Figures dated from: 1st Sept 03

Merseyside Police's Chief Constable, Norman Bettison is calling for a crackdown on firework sales and the importation of illegal fireworks following a recent spate of damaging firework incidents across Merseyside.

Mr Bettison is to urge the Home Secretary to only permit the sale of fireworks to those with a special licence to clamp down on the illegal use of the fireworks. He outlined this proposal at a meeting with a number of local MP's and Merseyside Police Authority Chair, Councillor Carol Gustafson who promised him their total support.

Over recent weeks 30 telephone kiosks have been targeted by vandals across Merseyside as well as half a dozen cars,  including one outside a nightclub on Mount Pleasant, using either commercial fireworks or fireworks that have been adapted to cause bigger explosions.

Mr Bettison said: "We're dealing with three different types of firework abuse here. The first type involves kids getting their hands on fireworks and throwing them in the street, which distresses and alarms many people sometimes in the early hours of the morning.

"The second, a modern day phenomenon, involves vandals putting what can only be described as explosive devices in telephone kiosks, post boxes and cars to cause destruction to property and putting the lives of passers by at risk. And the third firework threat we're facing and rigorously investigating is even more sinister - criminals using the contents of fireworks to produce low grade explosives, coupled with  other material to cause maximum devastation as we've seen twice now in the city centre with the car explosion outside the 051 club and the nail bomb incident in Dickie Lewis's.

We have made arrests in relation to explosives manufacture.

"Now we're doing all we can to catch those responsible and take fireworks off the street. We are making seizures and dealing with the menace on a daily basis. Seizures by our neighbourhood police officers, like the ones we've seen in the past 24 hours, demonstrate this. The waste of Police time is criminal.

"Why don't we just change the law to deprive criminals and young thugs of their availability. That's why I'll be keeping a catalogue of the number of fireworks incidents in the run up to November 5 and handing the dossier to the Home Secretary and local MPs to make sure we're at the front of the queue in pushing for new legislation around firework availability and use."

Mr Bettison added: "One of the problems we've also identified is unregulated distribution of fireworks. Large containers are entering the country directly from China usually via UK ports. It is thought that the containers then go to various locations across the country where the loads are divided and distributed and ultimately sold through a variety of unregistered outlets. The typical value of the large containers can fetch in the region of £250,000.

"New legislation could have a dramatic impact on the distribution of these powerful fireworks, which in the wrong hands can seriously or fatally injure. Again we need to prevent this from happening each and every year."

The call comes after two significant seizures of fireworks in Liverpool. Ninety two large boxes of display fireworks, with an estimated value of £50,000, were seized in a house in  Angelzark Close, Liverpool North, yesterday alongside £10,000 worth of drugs believed to be crack cocaine and two air rifles. Earlier in the day two were arrested in Liverpool South after nine display boxes were seized in a house in Milwood Road, Speke.

These latest seizures come on the back of significant  firework seizures in recent weeks which were bound for illegal sale, after tip offs from the community.

The Force is also using its successful 'Good Guy' responsible retailer scheme to its optimum urging all retailers to voluntarily sign up to be a 'Good Guy' and restrict firework sales to a time period between October 15th - November 8th for Bonfire Night and between 10th-31st December for New Year celebrations. The scheme also strictly enforces the legislation not to sell under 18's and to ask for identification when selling the fireworks.

The scheme is running in conjunction with Merseyside Fire Service and Trading Standards and so far 79 per cent of retailers across Merseyside have signed up to the initiative.

Additional:
Merseyside Police has taken 40 calls from Crimestoppers in the past four weeks relating to illegal storage and sales of fireworks. In the run up to November 5th we are extending the hours of Crimestoppers to encourage reports of illegal sales and possession of significant amounts of fireworks. For Crimestoppers please call 0800 555 111.
771 reports of firework misuse have been taken through our call centres all requiring a police response.
George Howarth MP is keen to support the approach.

October 16 2003, Prime Minister's 10 Downing Street - Website, Be prepared for bonfire night
A new campaign is reminding parents of the dangers of fireworks. The number of injuries caused by fireworks fell by one quarter last year, but hospitals still treated 88 children under the age of five.
Sparklers injured 132 people, and figures also show that teenagers are the most likely age group to end up in casualty.
TV adverts are raising awareness in the run-up to bonfire night, and people are urged to follow these guidelines.
Children under five
Never give sparklers to under fives
Never hold a baby or child if you have a sparkler in your hand
Always supervise young children closely
All children
Supervise all children carefully and keep them well back from the bonfire and fireworks
Always light sparklers one at a time
Show older children how to hold sparklers - away from their body and at arm's length - and teach them not to wave them at other people or run while holding them
Avoid dressing children in loose or flowing clothes that could catch alight easily, and give children gloves to wear when holding sparklers
Sparklers can stay hot long after they've gone out. Once finished, plunge them hot end down into a bucket of soil or water
Steer clear of alcohol if you're running a display or looking after kids
In an emergency
Cool the burn or scald with cold water for at least ten minutes
Don't touch the burn or pull away any material stuck to it
Cover the burn with clean, non-fluffy material to prevent infection - cling film is ideal
If clothing catches fire, get the person to stop, drop to the floor and roll them in heavy material, such as a curtain
Seek medical advice
The campaign launch comes hard on the heels of new powers for the Government to cut down on the problem of noise, nuisance and the anti-social use of fireworks.
The Fireworks Act will enable the Government to set a maximum noise limit for fireworks, license retailers selling fireworks and ban their use during anti-social hours. This will not apply to Bonfire Night this year but the Government is calling on retailers and consumers to act in the spirit of the new law.

October 16 2003, This is Nottingham Firework Laws Fast track
New laws to clamp down on fireworks could be in place by Christmas, it has been revealed.

The Government announced three parts of the Fireworks Bill were being fast-tracked.

It includes a new fireworks curfew from 11pm to 7am, laws making it an offence for those under 18 to be in the possession of powerful fireworks and prohibiting the supply of air bombs.

Nottingham North MP Graham Allen, who has lobbied for tighter control and backed the Post's Be Safe Not Sorry campaign, said: "This is really great as three of the most important aspects are coming forward a lot quicker than we thought."

It is thought other parts of the Bill - including on-the-spot fines for under-18s messing with fireworks, tough retail laws and restricting firework sales to certain times of the year - will not be introduced until later in 2004.

October 16 2003, Sky News, Massive blast at Jen's house
The home of former Brookside star Jennifer Ellison has been rocked by an explosion. It shattered a window and splintered woodwork at the house the 21-year-old shares with her fiancée. The blast, which was caused by a massive firework, is the latest attack in a suspected terror campaign against the pair. A second firework blew the bumper off a neighbour's Citroen Saxo car. A neighbour told The Sun: "I was woken up by two huge bangs - I thought there had been another gun attack.
Jen's home is under attack  "This is starting to get really worrying." Last month the house in the West Derby area of Liverpool was hit by two bullets in a drive-by shooting. The Sun suggested Ellison's fiancée Tony Richardson, 24, was being targeted by gangsters. It said he had been branded a "grass" for giving police a list of names after one of his friends was stabbed in a pub.

October 15 2003, Bucks Free Press, Firework Laws Will Put Sparkle Back
NEW fireworks controls - which will ban the use of fireworks during anti-social hours - has been welcomed by Buckinghamshire Trading Standards.
A private member's bill making new laws to control noise, nuisance and anti-social use of fireworks has been approved by Parliament.
County councillor Margaret Dewar, community services portfolio holder, said: "When used sensibly, fireworks can be a popular form of family entertainment. But all too often noisy fireworks used at anti-social hours cause real disturbance in local communities.
"These new powers will make a real difference in cracking down on the excess noise and nuisance that so often keeps people awake at night and causes misery to pets and other animals. This private member's bill was successful because it had broad public support.
"Most people do not object to the careful use of fireworks but do object to their use at the wrong time and in the wrong place."
The new Fireworks Act, which will come into effect next year, will allow the Government to licence people who sell fireworks, impose a noise limit, allow local authorities to revoke licences from traders who act irresponsibly and ban the use of fireworks during anti-social hours.

October 15 2003, Evening Chronicle, New ads in bid to cut fireworks casualties
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to cut down on accidents with fireworks. The drive comes after one North East boy lost an eye after an accident with fireworks at the weekend. Devastated Craig Dryden is recovering in hospital after the rocket exploded in his face.
The 14-year-old was playing with a group of friends in a field near his home in Ouston, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, when he was struck five days ago. Surgeons operated but could not save his eye.  Craig had wanted to join the forces and become a mechanic when he grows up, but his family fear his dream could now be shattered.

Now pupils from West Gate Community College in Newcastle have become the first to see two specially produced adverts for the new safety campaign.  Alan Brown, director of the group responsible for crime reduction at Government Office North East, which funded the scheme, hailed it as a success.  He said: "This is a terrific example of how the crime reduction and safety partnerships can work together with other partners to make a real difference to the safety of our communities.  "The campaign provides an excellent opportunity to get a clear safety message across and will, I'm sure, become a model of best practice for other similar initiatives."

The South Park type cartoons will be shown on 'Tyne Tees Television until November 5.

October 15 2003, ic Huddersfield - New safety calls as firework sales start
FIREWORKS are now officially on sale - and buyers are urged to use them safely.
The Government's Trade and Industry Department has joined forces with national charity the Child Accident Prevention Trust to launch a series of TV adverts, reminding parents of the dangers of fireworks - particularly the seemingly innocent sparkler.
Despite a 25% fall in firework injuries last year, hospitals still treated 88 children under five. Also, 132 people were injured by sparklers, which can reach temperatures up to 1000ºC.
Teenagers planning mischief with fireworks this year were also warned that they could end up in casualty.
As part of the safety campaign, packs have been sent to 25,000 schools nationwide, containing teaching materials about the safe use of fireworks.
The campaign follows plans for new Government powers to curb the use of fireworks.
The Fireworks Act will allow the Government to set a curfew for firework use of 11pm (except New Year's Eve).
There will also be a noise limit and tighter import controls.
Retailers will need a licence to sell fireworks and can only do so for the three weeks before November 5.
Anyone selling them all year will need a special licence.

October 15 2003, ic Liverpool - Firework attacks in city
TWO cars and a phone box have blown up in new firework blasts in Liverpool.
Police were this morning investigating after a car parked in the driveway of a family home exploded last night.
The family were inside the house in Bray Road, Speke, when the blast struck their BMW at around 7.30pm.
Bomb disposal experts, firefighters and police were called to the scene but nobody was injured.
Within an hour, a Landrover parked in Church Road, Speke, was also destroyed after an explosion.
Station officer Shaun Cooper from Speke fire station said: "We believe someone had put fireworks into the vehicles and set them alight.
"It is an extremely dangerous thing to do and both cars were destroyed as a result.
"Fireworks cause cars to explode very quickly and if anyone had been standing nearby at the time they could have been killed by the blast.
"The people who do this are risking their lives as well as the lives of other people."
A spokesperson for Merseyside police said: "We can confirm there were incidents of cars on fire in Speke last night.
"But our forensic teams are still investigating the cause."
And in Northway, Wavertree, a phone box had its glass blown out after yobs planted fireworks there.
Scenes of crime officers were called to the scene shortly after 7pm.
But no one was injured in the incident.
These latest explosions follow a string of firework incidents across the city.
Earlier this month, a couple were left shaken after a giant firework blasted a hole in their roof in Speke.
This came just days after a firework was thrown into Speke police station.
A chip shop in St Mary's Road, Garston also suffered damage after it was targeted by vandals.
Anyone with any information on the incidents should call police on 0151-777 5114, or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

October 15 2003, Manchester Online, Manchester Evening News wins action on firework yobs
THE GOVERNMENT is rushing through a crackdown on firework louts in time for New Year's Eve after a Manchester Evening News campaign.

The action comes after Tony Blair threw his weight behind the crusade for greater fireworks control - which MPs and councillors say is the public's number one gripe.

The three-point plan will be in place before Christmas and make it an offence for under-18s to possess fireworks.

There will also be a curfew on using fireworks after 11pm and a complete ban on air-bomb sales.

The move was revealed to the M.E.N. by Home Office minister and Salford MP Hazel Blears. She said ministers will bring forward parts of the Fireworks Act.

The Act contains 19 clauses which were not expected to come into force until next year in time for Bonfire Night 2004.

But Ms Blears said the government will use a special procedure to fast-track three of the powers.

Ms Blears said: "All credit to the Manchester Evening News. The Firework Act has gone through but there are fears the regulations will not be brought in for some time.

"What we are doing now is secondary legislation because there has been quite some demand for us to do something quickly. This should be in place by Christmas."

Fantastic
The M.E.N. has campaigned for an all-out ban on over-the-counter sales of fireworks to stop the menace caused in neighbourhoods. The new Fireworks Act, championed by Scottish MP Bill Tynan, does not go that far, but it will eventually restrict sales and set limits on maximum noise.

Mr Tynan said: "The Manchester Evening News and its readers have been fantastic. They have backed me all the way and I would like to thank them for that.

"Fireworks can be very enjoyable for people but they have to be used responsibly.

"All through the year you find young people using them indiscriminately and that's what we have to deal with."

The 11pm curfew will not apply to licensed New Year's Eve celebrations but will ban late-night private displays. The ban on air bombs - which have little purpose other than to make a loud noise - will also be widely welcomed.

Manchester city council has asked all traders to sign a voluntary code not to sell fireworks until today - exactly three weeks before Bonfire Night. Nearly 100 agreed.

Coun Pat Karney, who has led the town hall crackdown, said: "This is fantastic. The M.E.N. has led a two-year campaign and I know for a fact that Tony Blair has been following it.

"It is great news for communities that have put up with this madness."

Meanwhile, a teenager suffered severe burns when a firework exploded in his hands last night.

The lit firework was thrown at the 17-year-old boy in Swinton, Salford, and exploded when he picked it up. He is now recovering in Hope Hospital.

October 15 2003, ManchesterOnline - News, Help may be too late for Rosie
THE crackdown on fireworks yobs may come too late for pet dog Rosie. .

The three-year-old bearded collie has developed a phobia to firework explosions and owner Shirley Brown has been told by vets to consider having her put down.

Shirley, 61, from Cheadle Hulme, paid for expensive treatment to try to cure Rosie, trying everything from de-sensitisation CDs to a six-pills-a-day course of medicine.

Now after a lifetime devoted to helping damaged and mistreated dogs, Shirley is considering the "unthinkable", while condemning the anti-social actions of the fireworks yobs.

She said of Rosie: "She is such a sweet, timid dog normally, but when the fireworks start she goes berserk and shuttles round shaking and quivering. I'm afraid she will have a heart attack next time.

Sedation
"The explosions are let off all year-round but I am dreading every night as we get closer to Guy Fawkes.

"I have spent over £1,700 on trying to treat her and looked into kennels in the countryside for her during bonfire week, but I don't think the noise will be any better there, so heavy sedation is my only hope."

Shirley is adamant that putting Rosie to sleep would be a last resort, but says her pet is showing increasingly-disturbed behaviour and has even bitten her.

She said: "She is like a member of the family so I couldn't just give her away. I wish these people who let off fireworks every night until 2am could see the suffering they cause pets and their owners."

Rosie's vet, Pip Boydell, of the Animal Medical Centre Referral Service, in Chorlton, said: "Behavioural problems are a major reason why animals are put to sleep. Dogs especially can develop phobias and can become a danger to themselves as they try to hide from loud noises."

October 15 2003, ManchesterOnline - News, M.E.N. wins action on firework yobs
THE GOVERNMENT is rushing through a crackdown on firework louts in time for New Year's Eve after a Manchester Evening News campaign.

The action comes after Tony Blair threw his weight behind the crusade for greater fireworks control - which MPs and councillors say is the public's number one gripe.

The three-point plan will be in place before Christmas and make it an offence for under-18s to possess fireworks.

There will also be a curfew on using fireworks after 11pm and a complete ban on air-bomb sales.

The move was revealed to the M.E.N. by Home Office minister and Salford MP Hazel Blears. She said ministers will bring forward parts of the Fireworks Act.

The Act contains 19 clauses which were not expected to come into force until next year in time for Bonfire Night 2004.

But Ms Blears said the government will use a special procedure to fast-track three of the powers.

Ms Blears said: "All credit to the Manchester Evening News. The Firework Act has gone through but there are fears the regulations will not be brought in for some time.

"What we are doing now is secondary legislation because there has been quite some demand for us to do something quickly. This should be in place by Christmas."

Fantastic
The M.E.N. has campaigned for an all-out ban on over-the-counter sales of fireworks to stop the menace caused in neighbourhoods. The new Fireworks Act, championed by Scottish MP Bill Tynan, does not go that far, but it will eventually restrict sales and set limits on maximum noise.

Mr Tynan said: "The Manchester Evening News and its readers have been fantastic. They have backed me all the way and I would like to thank them for that.

"Fireworks can be very enjoyable for people but they have to be used responsibly.

"All through the year you find young people using them indiscriminately and that's what we have to deal with."

The 11pm curfew will not apply to licensed New Year's Eve celebrations but will ban late-night private displays. The ban on air bombs - which have little purpose other than to make a loud noise - will also be widely welcomed.

Manchester city council has asked all traders to sign a voluntary code not to sell fireworks until today - exactly three weeks before Bonfire Night. Nearly 100 agreed.

Coun Pat Karney, who has led the town hall crackdown, said: "This is fantastic. The M.E.N. has led a two-year campaign and I know for a fact that Tony Blair has been following it.

"It is great news for communities that have put up with this madness."

Meanwhile, a teenager suffered severe burns when a firework exploded in his hands last night.

The lit firework was thrown at the 17-year-old boy in Swinton, Salford, and exploded when he picked it up. He is now recovering in Hope Hospital.