DARLINGTON council is taking the initiative in curbing the sale and public use of fireworks prior to the introduction of laws by the Government.

The trading standards department is writing to registered retailers to encourage them to delay firework sales until two weeks prior to November 5. They will also investigate storage conditions, provide information on underage sales and carry out some limited test purchasing.

On Tuesday, at a scrutiny committee meeting, 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 set period, fireworks would be sold in boxes and not separately, that it would be an offence to set fireworks off after 11pm, and that community wardens would be given the power to confiscate fireworks.

The council will appeal to people to assist safety and reduce nuisance in a publicity campaign.

The Dolphin Centre will provide a fireworks display in the South Park and will work with the fire brigade and community wardens to provide talks to schools on the safe use of fireworks.

Leaflets will be distributed by retailers as fireworks are sold, wardens will examine the remains of fireworks and pass on any information on unregistered material and the Town Crier will be used to display a code of practice on safe use and avoiding nuisance.

Mr Atkinson added: "We can only go so far with publicity and we hope it will minimise the problems. In the future the scrutiny committee may want to examine the legislation when it comes out to see what resources are needed to enforce it.

"Middlesbrough council is also hoping that local authorities across the Tees Valley will work together to control the use of fireworks."