Fireworks and the Law

It is illegal to sell fireworks, including sparklers, to anyone who is under 18.

It is also against the law to sell caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches, party poppers, snakes, or throw-downs to anyone who is under 16.

Shop keepers and assistants who break this rule can be fined up to £5,000 or sent to prison for 6 months.

Packets of sparklers must carry a warning: "Not to be given to children under 5 years of age"

If you are under 18, you can be fined up to £5,000 for letting a firework off in a public place.

A public place is anywhere other than your back garden and includes streets, parks, and playgrounds.

It is also a fineable offence for anyone under the age of 18 to have a firework on them (other than a sparkler) in a public place.

It is illegal to set fireworks off between 11pm and 7am except on the following occasions:

• November 5th - until midnight
• New Year's Eve - until 1am on the following day
• Chinese New Year - until 1am on the following day
• Diwali - until 1am on the following day