A TEAM of teen detectives are helping to catch shopkeepers who sell fireworks to children.

Trading Standards officers are sending the youngsters into shops throughout East Lancashire to try and catch the law-breakers.

The children, aged around 13, are the sons and daughters of Trading Standards staff.

The move follows a wave of complaints about shopkeepers flouting the law by selling fireworks to under-16s.

Officers are already investigating 30 shops in the county believed to be trading to youngsters.

Trading Standards area manager Chris Allen said: "We're sending in the children to shops we're receiving complaints about and will continue to do so until Bonfire Night is over.

"The police are telling us they have received a lot of complaints about children throwing fireworks in the street and we are hoping to stop this by targeting those who sell them. "Anyone caught selling to children will face court action and that means a maximum fine of £5,000."

Traders are also legally obliged to store fireworks safely in secure containers, boxes, cupboards, drawers or glass cabinets where they are out of reach from youngsters.

Blackburn police say they have been shocked and angered by the number of illegal sales they have witnessed.

Four undercover officers have seen fireworks being sold to children as young as 12.

And firefighters say they are dealing with a huge amount of firework-related calls with as many as 50 incidents in just seven days.

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