Maidenhead & Windsor

Maidenhead Shoppers should remember, remember to look out for the British Standard 7114 mark when they buy their fireworks this year, Royal Borough trading standards officers have warned. The mark indicates the fireworks have passed stringent safety controls.

Prospective buyers are also urged not to buy from car boot sales or other temporary sales outlets as they are not licensed to sell fireworks, and to avoid fireworks such as bangers, mini-rockets, aerial shells, bombs and mortars, if offered, as these have all been banned from sale for several years.

In the run-up to bonfire night, Maidenhead trading standards officers are visiting shops to ensure the fireworks on sale meet the correct standards and are stored safely.

They are also making sure retailers understand their responsibilities and comply with the law regarding the sale of fireworks.

Shop owners have to be registered with trading standards in order to store fireworks for sale. Unless they have an annual licence they can only sell fireworks during the following times:

* October 15 to November 10
* December 26 to 31
* Chinese New Year's Day (which next year is on February 18) and the three days preceding it
* The first day of Diwali (celebrated last week) and the three days preceding it.

It is also an offence to sell fireworks to anyone under the age of 18 and trading standards are once again carrying out undercover test purchases to ensure retailers don't break this law.

Steve Johnson, Maidenhead trading standards manager, said: "Fireworks are explosive devices and our job is to ensure they are stored and sold in ways that will minimise any risk of injury. Retailers in the Royal Borough have always been sensible in this regard and we hope the work we are doing this year will show that they are continuing to comply with the law".

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead