RETAILERS in Crewe have been stung in a Cheshire East Council operation to crack down on selling fireworks to minors.

The council’s trading standards team has run its annual operation, Operation Sheldon, to counter illegal sales of fireworks to under-age people.

On Monday 26 October, under-age volunteers attempted to buy fireworks at 20 premises across east Cheshire, including retailers in Crewe and Nantwich.

Of the 20 premises that were tested, 16 passed (80 per cent), and four sales were made (20 per cent) at outlets in Crewe and Knutsford.

Premises in Alsager, Chelford, Congleton, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Mobberley, Middlewich and Wilmslow were also part of the operation.

CEC will now conduct interviews and full investigations into the sales as well as notifying the premises that passed and complied with the legislation.

Cllr Les Gilbert, CEC portfolio holder for communities, said: “The council takes the sale of fireworks to underage people extremely seriously.

“These fireworks attract a high risk of danger and injury to the person wielding the fireworks and the public and are best handled by a responsible adult.

“Children are unlikely to read the instructions fully and act responsibly when using fireworks, hence the age restriction associated with such products.

“We will now investigate these four incidents of sales and take any appropriate action.”

The operation saw underage volunteers attempting to purchase fireworks from the premises specified.

The trading standards team have a specific volunteer recruitment procedure, which includes verifying the volunteer’s age by viewing their original birth certificate.

When buying fireworks the following minimum age limits apply:

For a Christmas cracker, 12 years; for a category F1 firework other than a Christmas cracker, 16 years; for a category F2 firework or a category F3 firework, 18 years; for a category T1 theatrical pyrotechnic article, 18 years and for a category P1 other pyrotechnic article, 18 years.

Anyone with concerns about the sale of fireworks should contact Trading Standards on 03454 040506