Posted on Wednesday 1st December 2010
Shop owners across Staffordshire who sell fireworks all ensured proper age checks were carried out during a county council test purchase operation.
Trading standards officers visited 60 shops before Bonfire Night with volunteers under the age of 18 - the legal age to buy fireworks. Every shop tested ensured age checks were made and the volunteers were refused the sale.
The test purchasing was part of Operation Good Guy, a firework safety initiative run by the county council and its partner organisations, and the Take Care and Be Aware campaign.
In addition to the test purchasing, the trading standards team visited 142 shops across the county to check fireworks were being stored properly.
They found that strict storage and sales requirements were observed and complied with.
As part of Operation Good Guy, high schools were also visited with representatives from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue to highlight the dangers of playing with fireworks.
Cabinet member for communities and culture Ben Adams said it was good news that shop owners took their responsibilities seriously.
"Ensuring that fireworks are stored safely and sold responsibly is one of the priorities for the trading standards team at this time of year.
"The team ensures that the supply of fireworks is controlled and restricted, giving confidence to residents and traders.
"It's great to see that reported incidents of the misuse of fireworks in our communities are declining.
"This is due to the good work of the team in raising awareness in schools of the dangers that fireworks pose and reinforcing the age restrictions on their supply."
Shops were tested in Burton, Uttoxeter, Tamworth, Stafford, Stone, Great Wyrley, Huntington, Perton, Penkridge, Wombourne, Bilbrook, Burntwood, Lichfield, Rugeley, Cannock, Newcastle, Leek and Cheadle.
The Take Care and Be Aware campaign encouraged people to act responsibly during the Halloween and Bonfire Night period. A range of leading organisations from across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent have joined forces to spearhead the campaign including: Staffordshire County Council; Cannock Chase Council; Staffordshire Police; Staffordshire Fire and Rescue; East Staffordshire Borough Council; South Staffordshire District Council; Stoke City Council and Newcastle Borough Council.