Always store fireworks in its original box in a cool dry area in your home or outhouse. Don't keep the box under the stairs or in a passageway.

Pets hate bangs and flashes, keep your pets inside with the curtains closed during your display. Remember it's not just your own fireworks that cause distress, so you may need to have your pets indoors on the nights when other displays are taking place.

Always be prepared: follow spectator’s distance advice on the fireworks packaging (they vary from 8m to 25m) and have a full bucket of water handy for emergencies and for used sparklers. If you have the chance to get together with some other families and friends, try to go to the home with the biggest garden and the safest surroundings. Never place fireworks directly under over hanging trees.

Never wear loose clothing when operating fireworks especially long scarves. If your clothing is set alight STOP, DON’T RUN, DROP TO THE GROUND AND ROLLOVER TO PUT OUT THE FLAME.

You have to be 18 and over to use fireworks; adults should be responsible when igniting fireworks and children should never be allowed to ignite fuses. If a fuse does not ignite don’t go back to it, as it could be live and go off unexpectedly. At the end of your evening douse the 'dud' with lots of water.

Do you really need a bonfire? It’s much safer without one, but if you do insist please ensure sure it is away from house, trees, hedges, fences and sheds. Never use a flammable liquid like petrol or paraffin to get one going. If lighting your bonfire is difficult, use only domestic fire lighters to help. Check very carefully that there's no animal (or even a young child) hidden inside the bonfire. Don't light it until after all your fireworks have been let off.

Keep everyone at a safe distance away, and don't allow anyone to throw anything onto it.

All fireworks have different hazards, please always read instructions carefully before starting your display. Rockets for instance, should be launched from a rocket launch tube, not from a bottle

Please no fooling around! Throwing fireworks is so dangerous and illegal. It’s a criminal offence to do so in the street and the maximum penalty is £5000.

Fireworks CANNOT be set off after 11.00pm except on Bonfire Night where it extends until midnight. For New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year you can set them off up to until 1.00am.

Fireworks and Alcohol don’t mix! Please consider drinking after your display is over.

Keep children well away from fireworks, and never let a child handle one or light one. Even sparklers can be dangerous if unsupervised. Make sure that children are aware of the dangers. 

If you are looking to attend one of the many organised Bonfire & Fireworks Displays around the area, you will find plenty of details on our events pages. Please click here for a list of fireworks events