Fireworks let off in city's streets 'unacceptable'

Footage showing fireworks being set off on a busy city street were "unacceptable", the government said.

Video recorded on Lincoln Road in Peterborough showed the sky lit up during a series of loud explosions at about 21:30 GMT on Wednesday.

Cambridgeshire Police said no arrests had been made, but officers had attended "a number of incidents" this week relating to "inappropriate use of fireworks".

Meanwhile, police and the council's trading standards team seized more than 21kg of unlicensed fireworks from a shop in the city on Friday.

There were further reports of fireworks being let off in public areas, including a children's playground which was left strewn with debris.

Sam Tucker, the police force's Peterborough Neighbourhoods Inspector, said there would be extra patrols over the weekend.

"We would strongly urge anyone with any concerns to report to us, so we can build an accurate picture of anti-social behaviour and work to combat this," he added.

The owner of a different shop, Ali Shahbaz Khan, said he saw the incident on Wednesday, which he described as "pure stupidity".

"It was really some irresponsible adults," he said.

"They were just lighting fireworks in the middle of the road. No safety, nothing, anything could have happened.

"It could have hit a car, could have hit a child. It was not safe at all. "

Khan, of Fireworks Shop Peterborough, inspected the casings and said the fireworks had not been purchased at his store.

"I think the problem is not the fireworks themselves, the problem is people misusing them," he said.

"We warn people how to use rockets, how to use their compound cakes, but if they're misusing them, there's nothing more that we can do.

"I have quite a few underage lads that come in trying to purchase some fireworks and we just have to decline them."

However, Peterborough's Labour MP has long been calling for stronger laws to tackle "noisy, dangerous fireworks".

"We've seen some really dangerous scenes in public spaces these last few days," Andrew Pakes told the BBC.

"I'm really upset at the disgraceful behaviour of a small minority who are acting like mindless thugs."

He wants to see "stronger licensing" for shops and better enforcement of the existing laws.

The government has recently consulted on plans to reform fireworks legislation.

Speaking about this week's incidents, a government spokesperson said: "The scenes in Peterborough overnight were unacceptable.

"Limiting sales of the noisiest products to professional displays and taking them out of the hands of those who use them irresponsibly will crack down on anti-social behaviour and protect vulnerable people, pets and wildlife."

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