MAJOR swoops on rogue fireworks traders will take place across Bolton in the run up to Bonfire Night.

Trading Standards officers are to send people aged under 18 into shops, clampdown on car boot sales and look for warehouses storing fireworks without a licence.

And they vowed to prosecute anyone who breaks the law.

Earlier this year the Government introduced new laws preventing fireworks from being let off between 11pm and 7am. It is also an offence for under-18s to possess fireworks in a public place.

While police will be keeping a keen eye out for people who ignore the curfew, Trading Standards will be scrutinising a list of fireworks traders handed to them by the fire service.

Spot checks will be made on traders since the new legislation makes it illegal to sell fireworks to anyone under the age of 18.

Trading Standards will also be checking up on car boot sales since many rogue traders use them to sell fireworks illegally.

And there will be swoops on people believed to be storing fireworks illegally. Trading Standards say firms need a licence to store fireworks but illegal traders do not bother obtaining one.

Liz Pritchard, principal Trading Standards officer, said: "We will be acting more harshly on illegal traders this year because of the new laws.

"In the past we have had shops selling fireworks to people under the age of 18 and we will be stamping down hard on that over the next few weeks.

"There have been a number of complaints about the nuisance of people using fireworks unlawfully and this is why the law is in place."

It is thought that 10 per cent of the fireworks sold in Greater Manchester each year find their way to illegal retailers.

A Bonfire Strategy Group in Bolton, which is made up of Trading Standards, the Health and Safety Executive, police and fire service, will also be looking at the problem.

The curfew on letting off fireworks will be extended on Bonfire Night to midnight. For New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali night the deadline will be 1am.

Fireworks which exceed 120 decibels are also banned while shops that want to sell fireworks all year round now have to be licensed.

Greater Manchester Fire Service and the police will be given much of the responsibility for enforcing the rules.

If you have any nuisance problems with fireworks or views on the issue write to: The Editor, Bolton Evening News, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE, or e-mail ben_editorial@boltoneveningnews.co.uk