Campaign calls for law to curb Bradford fireworks

Politicians in Bradford are united in their calls for tougher curbs on the sale and use of fireworks

A campaign to curb the "year-round" use of fireworks in Bradford has gathered pace, with politicians from all parties supporting the motion.

Families in the city have asked the government to intervene to ban anti-social firework displays that they say are a "menace".

The government has said that police forces and local councils already have the necessary powers to control the sale of fireworks.

However Bradford Council told the BBC last week that "changes in national legislation" were required before it could take a tougher stance on the problem.

'Little progress'

Now several of the district's MPs have pledged to lobby for change, saying that they receive huge amounts of correspondence on the issue.

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins introduced a bill to restrict firework noise in Parliament last year and said the subject "filled" her mailbox.

The bill reached the second reading stage, but MPs want to push for a renewed focus on the issue.

Robbie Moore, MP for Keighley and Ilkley, said he was often contacted by constituents worried about the impact of noise on their pets, and added that he was in favour of stricter licensing and rules against fireworks being let off on public highways.

Anna Dixon, the new Labour MP for Shipley, agreed the anti-social use of fireworks was "unacceptable".

"It has been two decades since the last set of regulations on fireworks," she said.

Meanwhile, Bradford West MP Naz Shah said she wanted tighter regulations on wedding venues' use of fireworks.

A new online petition has already attracted 1,800 signatures and a demonstration was held last week.

Inayah Sher, the campaigner who set up the group Ban the Menace Fireworks, said: "Despite our efforts to address this issue, we have seen little progress."

She urged politicians to "take immediate action and restore peace to our community".

Firework laws

In England and Wales, it is illegal to set off fireworks between 23:00 and 07:00, except on Bonfire Night when the cut-off is 00:00.

The window extends to 01:00 on New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.

For private use, fireworks can only be bought from registered seasonal sellers from 15 October to 10 November, from Boxing Day until New Year's Eve, and three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year.

There are retailers registered to legally sell fireworks all year round.

The illegal sale of fireworks can result in a six-month prison sentence.

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