A survey carried out by the Institute of Trading Standards Administration (ITSA) also revealed that more than 20% of shops visited were storing fireworks near to matches and firelighters.

And retailers have been found selling the explosives to children without even attempting to find out their age.

Most of the outlawed fireworks on sale were bangers and mini-rockets.

New licensing system

During the past two weeks, officers from local authority departments have carried out checks in 66 areas of the country - and not a single region was without fault.

Of the areas surveyed, the worst for storing fireworks were Wandsworth in south London, and Torbay in Devon.

In Gloucester, five out of the 28 shops tested sold fireworks to under-age children, while in Aberdeen the figure was 10 out of 62.

Now the ITSA wants a licensing system to be established so that retailers can lose the right to sell fireworks if they do not do it properly.

Millennium fireworks

As the law stands it is possible for anyone to sell fireworks by registering with their local council and paying a £10.90 fee.

Although health and safety regulations apply, along with laws prohibiting the sale of fireworks to anyone under the age of 18, a retailer who is prosecuted can continue to sell fireworks.

Chariman of the ITSA Eric Robinson said: "This scheme would force all retailers to get it right first time and keep it right.

"We are not kill-joys. Most people can be trusted with fireworks and the current Department of Trade and Industry campaign rightly focuses on the unexpected dangers - like sparklers.

"But in the end such a campaign can only warn and educate. The government should be tackling the problem of firework safety where results can be achieved - that is the point of sale.