A RESIDENT has been given a rocket after being caught selling fireworks from home.

More than 150 fireworks were seized in a raid on the privately owned house on Middlesbrough's Thorntree council estate.

It is illegal to sell fireworks without an explosives licence.

Cleveland Police are condemning illegal firework sales which they say pose a risk to life and limb.

The raid on the house at Thorntree was a joint operation mounted by the police and Middlesbrough Council trading standards department.

Inspector Steve Keilty (COR) of Cleveland Police said: "This is an excellent example of how Middlesbrough Council and the police are working together under the Crime and Disorder Partnership to address community concerns.

"Certain irresponsible and greedy people are causing upset and annoyance to their neighbours as well as creating a potentially dangerous situation just to make a few pounds.''

He appealed to neighbours to continue to call a confidential firework nuisance hotline (01642) 728002, which has been set up by Middlesbrough Council.

The council says tenants caught selling fireworks from their home could face eviction.

A spokesman said: "If we have a situation where there is a clear breach of the tenancy rules and one of those is a tenant should not be operating a businesses from home - especially an illegal one - we look very carefully at the situation.''

There is a promise from the firework manufacturing industry in the UK that November 5 and the run up to it next year will be quieter by 30 million loud bangs.

From January 1 members of the British Firework Association, an organisation which distributes 95 percent of all family fireworks in Britain, will no longer supply single tube air bombs and small whistle-bang rockets.

Association chairman John Woodhead said: "We trust that this announcement will be good news to the many who have felt the need to complain so vociferously during the past year - in particular the elderly and pet owners.

"It cannot take effect until next year because of the long lead time for ordering and manufacturing.''