'Consequences Cards' issued ahead of Bonfire Night

The cards are being handed out by youth workers, police officers and firefighters

Advice cards outlining the law over the use of fireworks and the penalties for ignoring it are being handed out in Bradford ahead of Bonfire Night.

The so-called "consequences cards", produced by the city's Community Safety Partnership, are specifically being given to young people in the city in the run-up to 5 November.

Under the Fireworks Regulations Act 2004, it is an offence for anyone under the age of 18 to buy or possess fireworks.

Heather Wilson, youth services development manager at Bradford Council, said the cards being handed out by youth workers, police officers and firefighters, were aimed at helping young people "see how they can stay out of trouble".

Heather Wilson says the primary aim of the cards is to keep young people and the wider community safe

The advice cards, which fold up into the size of a bank card, have been designed with the help of some of the city's young people.

Ms Wilson explained: "It's about giving out some safety messages to young people about some of the risks around fireworks season and Bonfire season."

The cards not only outlined the law surrounding the possession of fireworks, but also related offences, including making a bonfire that endangers life, she said.

Youth workers have been giving out the consequences cards out across the district as part of a wider initiative which has also seen letters sent to parents and guardians explaining their responsibilities.

The leaflets were designed in part by young people in collaboration with Bradford youth workers

Ms Wilson said: "What we want those young people to do is, later on, when they're getting changed, or changing their jacket or trousers or something, they stumble across that card again.

"And that gives them that moment of reflection when they can open that card and remind themselves of some of those really key messages we've given them."

She added that it was illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to buy, or to be in possession of, fireworks, "and that includes sparklers as well".

"That's something you don't often think about because you almost see sparklers as things that haven't got the same threat as fireworks," she said.

In September, a senior Bradford Council official called for a change in the law to prevent the anti-social use of fireworks.

Noreen Akhtar said the city had been plagued for years with rockets and other fireworks being let off at all times of the day and night.

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