NEW laws to end the misery of firework-throwing on Bonfire Night flopped in the North-East and North Yorkshire, official figures show.

Not a single on-the-spot fine was handed out on November 5 by any of the Durham, Cleveland, North Yorkshire or Northumbria forces, according to the Home Office.

Government ministers repeatedly trumpeted the use of £80 fixed penalty notices as the solution to "firework yobs", who put lives at risk by throwing rockets and sparklers.

But the four North-East and North Yorkshire forces were among three-quarters across England and Wales that did not use the punishment.

A miserable 22 fines were handed out across the country, according to figures released by the Home Office under the Freedom of Information Act.

Last night Darlington MP Alan Milburn, who has put a crackdown on anti-social behaviour at the forefront of Labour's agenda, said: "I know from my work around Darlington that the misuse of fireworks can make people's lives a misery.

"It is vital that the authorities use the powers given by this Government and I will be raising the matter with the chief constable."

But Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "It looks like the promise by Mr Blair's Government to clamp down on this has been just another headline grabbing initiative that isn't followed up."

Previous figures have shown that 314 fines were handed out in the year up to October 31, of which, one was in Cleveland. None were given out by the other three local forces.

At the time, ministers said police had been unfamiliar with the powers and insisted their use would increase dramatically once Bonfire Night arrived.

However, a Home Office spokesman said there had been "a significant reduction" in complaints about firework use last November, compared to previous years.

He said: "This season was perceived by the public as a lot quieter and with less nuisance being caused through the misuse of fireworks. Although this is still relatively new legislation, the take-up demonstrates the powers have been widely welcomed and police have reported to us that they are being used effectively."

Of the 22 fines handed out on November 5, 13 were for throwing fireworks, seven for possession by under-18s, one for breach of a curfew and one for possession of a banned firework.