Shop owners warned over fireworks

Traders in Oxfordshire have been warned they face fines or possible prison sentences if they do not store and sell fireworks responsibly.

For the first time, police, fire and trading standards officers have joined forces to target shops that flout the law.

A spot check in the Wantage area found one store had failed to have a fire extinguisher near its firework store.

Overall the officers said they were happy with what they had found so far.

Oxfordshire Trading Standards officer Richard Rockall said the aim of the operation had been to ensure shop owners were keeping fireworks safely.

Over 25s policy

"We were looking at the shop displays, making sure they were locked, that the fireworks in them were of the right quality and that there had been a risk assessment for the site," he said.

"Overall the store was very good, but the nearest fire extinguisher wasn't close enough to the fireworks"
Richard Rockall, trading standards officer

At Rowes newsagents in Wallingford Street, Wantage, Mr Rockall found there were only minor problems with the storage of fireworks.

However, the shop scored top marks for having a policy of not selling fireworks to anyone under 25.

"Overall the store was very good, but the nearest fire extinguisher wasn't close enough to the fireworks," said Mr Rockall.

Owner Lynn Rowe said she would rectify the problem as soon as possible.

"The fireworks are locked away in a metal container but we will proceed to get an extinguisher today," she said.

Untidiness

Clovers store in Grove Street came out as "adequate" for its storage of fireworks following the visit by the three services.

But Mr Rockall said he was concerned about boxes stored around the display case and stock positioned close to where the fireworks were kept at the back.

Now the Oxfordshire-based team is planning to target illegal fireworks that do not conform to British standards and are sold by unregistered traders.

Next week the authorities plan to step up their patrols at night to catch people who misuse fireworks.