THERE is clearly a desperate need for a local by-law in Bolton to restrict sales of fireworks to a few days before Bonfire Night.

Our story tonight about the pensioner who has already endured two weeks of misery because of fireworks being set off highlights the problem.

The Government and manufacturers operate a voluntary agreement that fireworks should not be sold until three days before November 5. Obviously that does not work. Some manufacturers choose to ignore this and supply the shops who want to make a profit from the fireworks for as long as possible.

What is needed is legislation which can be enforced. A plan to create a local by-law in Bolton to restrict sales to three weeks before bonfire night was abandoned because legal experts said it would be impractical to implement.

We cannot understand why. It should be easier to prove sales of fireworks on specific dates than to establish that a shopkeeper has sold fireworks to under 16s. The fact that fireworks are on display is surely a strong indication that a shopkeeper intends to sell them.

Fireworks can cause distress to many people and animals. Unless tough legislation, which the manufacturers and shopkeepers support, is introduced, public opinion may demand the sale of fireworks is banned completely.

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