Lancashire County Council has issued a warning that illegal and potentially dangerous fireworks may be on sale in the county.
The Lancashire Trading Standards Service warning follows reports from Merseyside Police that bangers, sometimes boxed with the brand name “Tapirki”, have been found on sale in areas of the north west.
Bangers consist of a small tube, a few inches in length, filled with gunpowder with a short fuse on top. After bangers are lit, they are thrown onto the ground and, after a short pause, explode with a loud bang. They can be sold individually or in packs of 10.
Bangers were banned for sale to the public in 1997 after concerns over their safety and use in anti-social behaviour.
The bangers that have been found on sale are poorly constructed, often with short fuses, which could explode very quickly once lit causing injury to anyone holding them.
County Councillor Janice Hanson, Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Waste, said:
“We don’t want to be killjoys but bangers were banned for very good reason. While bangers have so far not been found on sale in Lancashire over this bonfire period, I want to warn residents to be vigilant.
“Bangers are illegal for sale and could pose a serious danger. Members of the public should not buy or use such illegal fireworks.
“Anyone who has information about the sale of bangers should contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on telephone 08454 04 05 06.”