ON-THE-SPOT fines of £80 are to be given to people who act dangerously or anti-socially with fireworks, police have warned. And Trading Standards are to visit shops under cover to make sure that fireworks are not being sold to children. Figures show that

ON-THE-SPOT fines of £80 are to be given to people who act dangerously or anti-socially with fireworks, police have warned.

And Trading Standards are to visit shops under cover to make sure that fireworks are not being sold to children.

Figures show that in 2005 there were 990 people injured across Britain through fireworks, including 494 people under 18, and 281 aged 13 or under.

Police have the power to stop and search youngsters they think have fireworks, and are reminding people that fireworks cannot be used between 11pm and 7am, although this is relaxed on November 5.

Deaths from fires are at their lowest nationally since 1958 - but Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service still took time out on Friday to warn of increased dangers during winter.

Lawrie Booth, deputy chief fire officer for Cambridgeshire, said: "Firefighters do not want to become unwanted guests at your celebrations."

Cambridgeshire hit the headlines in 2005 after Trading Standards discovered that Godmanchester businessman Nigel Kroll had stored more than two tonnes of fireworks under straw in an old barn.

Kroll was ordered to pay nearly £15,000 in fines and legal costs after admitting three offences under the Explosives Act of 1875 and one of storing fireworks illegally.