Retailers fail firework age check

Shops will be contacted to tighten up sales of fireworks

More than one third of Borders shops sold fireworks to underage buyers during a Trading Standards operation.

The test purchase programme took place in the run-up to bonfire night at stores across the region.

A total of 11 retailers were tested and four of them sold fireworks to a 16-year-old when the items carried a legal purchase age of 18.

Enforcement officer Cameron McVean said all the shops would be contacted and asked to "tighten up" sales practice.

This operation was part of ongoing efforts by trading standards to stop sales of age-barred products to those under the legal purchase age.

'Very surprised'

All firework retailers were warned in advance of the exercise and offered advice on the regulations.

Mr McVean said: "I'm very surprised at the number of stores that happily sold fireworks to our young volunteer.

"I shall be making contact with them all in the very near future to discuss how they can tighten up their procedures."

Councillor Len Wyse said the exercise illustrated the good work being done by trading standards to tackle underage sales.

He added that it also highlighted Scottish Borders Council's desire to bring to an end anti-social behaviour often associated with fireworks.