BOLTON MP Brian Iddon has called for the Government to act to prevent fireworks tragedies at the Millennium caused by too much drink.

He fears that the closeness in date of firework night to the change of the century, could lead to prolonged sale and misuse of the dangerous items.

And he is particularly concerned that on December 31, there could be accidents caused by heavy drinking.

Bolton South East MP Dr Iddon has put down a Commons Motion on the issue which begins by congratulating the Government on tightening the regulations on fireworks which resulted in a significant reduction in accidents.

However, Dr Iddon warns about the increased harassment being caused by the sale of larger and nosier fireworks, increasingly imported.

The motion "recognises the proximity of the 1999 Guy Fawkes night to the Millennium celebrations, which is likely to result in a long sale of fireworks"

Research chemist Dr Iddon, who used to take a display of chemical fireworks round the country to increase interest in science, said he is also alarmed, at the potential for the misuse of fireworks by people who have consumed considerable amounts of alcohol on New Years Eve. Dr Iddon, backed by four other MPs including Chorley's Lindsay Hoyle calls on the Government to introduce legislation which would require anyone mounting public displays to provide evidence of firework safety training and the restriction the sale of larger and nosier fireworks to the public.

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