COUNCIL bosses in Darlington are taking action to prevent the reckless use of fireworks.

The authority's trading standards department is writing to businesses, encouraging them to delay selling fireworks until October 22 - two weeks before bonfire night.

They will also investigate storage conditions, provide information on underage sales and carry out some limited test purchasing.

Keith Atkinson, the council's assistant director of public protection, said: "Trading standards, environmental health and the warden service are working together to bring some control over fireworks.

"The Government has taken on board concerns from people and has built in some controls over fireworks into its anti-social behaviour bill and is supporting the introduction of a Fireworks Bill, but they will not be in force this year."

He said that the laws would limit the sale of fireworks to a set period; fireworks would be only sold in boxes; it would be an offence to set fireworks off after 11pm; and community wardens would be given powers to confiscate fireworks.