LAWS on the sale of mortar-style fireworks should be tightened so that ordinary members of the public cannot get hold of them.

Two men have been killed in separate, but identical, incidents when they were kneeling down to light the fireworks which are intended for use by professional display operators.

The law already demands that only professionals are allowed to buy the most powerful fireworks. But there is clearly a loophole, because members of the public can get hold of them by telling dealers they are running a paid-for display.

As professionals do not need licenses to validate their skill, retailers can argue there is no way of differentiating between amateurs and professionals.

And Noel Tobin, director of the National Campaign for Firework Safety, has said there are fireworks on sale in Britain which have been banned in China.

We urge everyone not to use fireworks which are large and elaborate and obviously meant for professional display operators and always to ensure those they buy bear the British quality mark, BS 7114.

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