NEW laws to crack down on firework yobs come into force on June 7.

Thanks to the part played by local protesters, air bombs will be banned, new strict controls on mini rockets will be introduced and it will be made more difficult for under 18s to obtain fireworks.

Leigh MP Andy Burnham, who was one of 15 MPs who presented petitions collected in their constituencies to 10, Downing Street, has welcomed the new legislation.

He said: "Two years ago I was inundated with complaints about the weeks of firework nuisance and I, along with fellow MPs Ian McCartney (Makerfield) and Neil Turner (Wigan), launched a borough-wide petition on which thousands of signatures were collected. This was a case in which public pressure won in the end."

Consumer minister Gerry Sutcliffe who announced the changes said: "Fireworks can be fun, but they can also cause untold misery for animals and the elderly.

"We are making it much harder for youngsters to get hold of them. Air bombs and mini rockets are cheap 'pocket money' bangs - banning them will help keep them out of the hands of hooligans."

Shops must now check customers' ages and retailers who break the rules could be fined up to £5,000 or face six month jail sentences.