Aerials shells face ban

Clampdown on Fireworks

The minimum age for buying fireworks is to be raised from 16 to 18, and an emergency ban on public sales of jumping crackers and aerial shells will be made permament. In a second stage of new rules to be introduced after this year's November 5 celebrations, mini-rockets and bangers will also be outlawed.

"Firework injuries have soared to unacceptable levels. I am taking tough action to protect the public while ensuring that families can continue to enjoy fireworks," said the Consumer Affairs Minister, Nigel Griffiths.

"Too many children are injured. Too many elderly people live in fear because of hooligan fireworks," he said.

Griffiths: Too many children injured by fireworks

The Government measures are designed to protect the public while ensuring that families could continue to enjoy fireworks.

Last year, three people were killed and more than one-thousand injured in accidents involving bangers and powerful shell-style fireworks.

The new rules have been welcomed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

The crackdown has also been welcomed by the widow of David Hattersley, the headmaster who was killed in front of his pupils last year when an firework blew up in his face.

"I always knew fireworks could cause injuries if they were handled irresponsibly. I had no idea that a single firework could kill outright," she said.

"I would say to people organising firework displays this year, take every precaution and be very careful," she added. "It often takes something like my husband's death to bring the message home to people."