Fears as fireworks let off on main road

People in Hull are calling for more restrictions on the sale of fireworks after a busy Bonfire Night and weekend in the city.

A video has been posted online which appears to show people near homes in Anlaby Road lighting fireworks while holding them.

A national public consultation on reforms to fireworks legislation closed in October.

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said it is important parents and guardians educate children on the dangers of using fireworks inappropriately.

Paula Fisher, who lives in the street, said she was disturbed by the fireworks.

"It makes me feel extremely nervous. There's a lot of footfall around here and people are going to get hurt."

Most fireworks can only be sold to those aged 18 or over. It is illegal for anyone under 18 to possess them in public.

Fireworks can only be set off between 07:00 and 23:00, apart from on Bonfire Night when they can be set off until midnight. On New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, the cut off time is 01:00.

But Fisher and others want tighter restrictions.

"They should get rid of all of these big fireworks and just keep them for proper organised displays," she said.

"What must our pensioners think, especially our remaining war survivors and people with PTSD?

"It's absolutely outrageous."

Thangarasa Wimalarasa, who runs Stuarts News on Anlaby Road, refuses to sell fireworks.

"Fireworks are OK at certain times and certain places," he said. "Otherwise, they're annoying."

It is not clear exactly when the incident happened.

Wimalarasa said his shop would have been open at the time.

"It's not good to do this in public places. It scares some people and some pets."

Michael Nicholson, a watch manager at Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, said this year's Bonfire Night was very busy "as always".

"There were plenty of incidents going on, crews were busy all night.

"If you use fireworks irresponsibly, they can have a massive impact on fires in buildings and also with injuries. We've had incidents of people setting fireworks off from their hands, or firing them across the roadside. All that can lead to devastating consequences.

"Think about how you're going to use fireworks. Parents and carers should explain the dangers of using fireworks incorrectly and the consequences that can have.

"It's just not worth the risk."

The government's consultation, run by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, closed on 7 October.

It proposes cutting the maximum noise of fireworks sold to the public from 120 to 110 decibels, which the government says would roughly halve how loud they sound.

It also sought views on a further drop, to 100 or 90 decibels.

Under the proposals, louder fireworks would still be available to professionals, so organised public displays could still use them.

The government also wants to make clear that fireworks with multiple shot tubes are banned from sale to the public. It said an outright ban on the public buying fireworks would not be proportionate.

The government will publish a summary of responses and its plans, and any changes would need parliamentary approval.

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