YOUTHS threw large fireworks into the foyer of a supermarket in Harwood last night.

A gang jumped out of a car and threw the fireworks into the Safeway store before jumping back into their vehicle and driving off.

The explosions, at around 8.45pm, rattled the shutters on the front of the building. No one was hurt in the incident and fire crews arrived to blow smoke out of the foyer.

There were more problems on Bashall Street, off Chorley Old Road, where youths started throwing neighbours' wheelie bins and aerosol cans on to their bonfire.

The fire was extinguished and no one was hurt, but firefighters feel the message about safety is not getting through.

Sub-officer Ken Rathbone, from Bolton Central Fire Station, on Moor Lane, said: "Not only will this cost the council or residents money to replace these bins, but it shows that no matter how many times we try to get the message across about not messing with fire, people simply aren't listening."

Meanwhile, three Bolton traders could be fined £5,000 each after they were allegedly caught selling fireworks to children.

Trading standards officers will interview the three traders, who were targeted during a two-day swoop on 11 shops in the run-up to Bonfire Night.

The children were working undercover for trading standards as part of an operation to crack down on the sale of fireworks to children.

A boy and a girl, both aged 15, went into 11 shops reported by residents and councillors in firework-plagued areas of Horwich, Farnworth, Deane and the town centre.

Trading Standards officers are considering whether to take legal action against the three traders. The maximum punishment is a £5,000 fine.

Principal trading standards officer Darryl Wilson said: "They visited shops in Horwich, Farnworth, Deane and the town centre.

"It was disappointing to get nearly 25 per cent of the shopkeepers selling to children because every shop selling fireworks in Bolton had been warned by letter that you shouldn't sell to under-18s."

We asked them to buy air bombs because they are cheap. Young people don't tend to buy the pretty sort, they tend to go for something which makes a loud bang like these."

He added: