Stores sold fireworks to children

The law prohibits the sale of fireworks to under 18s

The illegal sale of fireworks to children by two high street stores has been revealed by a BBC investigation.

The fireworks were sold to two 15-year old children by branches of Aldi and Lidl. The law prohibits sales to anyone under 18.

Neither the girl nor the boy was challenged for proof of age.

Both supermarkets responded by telling BBC Inside Out in the East they took age restricted sales seriously and that all their staff were fully trained.

Aldi added that the firm intended to investigate the matter.

The BBC investigation revealed that two 15-year-olds successfully obtained fireworks in four out of eight attempts to buy them at several stores in Norwich.

Trading Standards officers across the UK undertake inspections of shops which are licensed to sell fireworks.

They also carry out test purchases of premises suspected of selling to under 18s. Last year in Norfolk 30% of these test purchases resulted in sales.

Tina Etherington, a Norfolk trading standards officer, told the BBC "We act on intelligence-led information and it is a question of resources.

"We are disappointed that you had three sales. We'd like the information and will decide what to do."

Every year 1,000 people are injured by fireworks. UK prosecutions are rare and across the East of England just two shops have been prosecuted since the law was tightened in 2004.

Sales of fireworks are currently restricted to certain times of the year. Illegal purchases by children have been linked to anti-social behaviour and campaigners are calling for a total ban on sales to the general public.

• The report can be seen on BBC One Inside Out in the eastern region on 5 November at 1930 GMT.