The child volunteers are clearly under-age and they've been sold fireworks. That's why we need to take steps

Councillor Eric Swain

He told BBC Radio Derby: "It's worse this year, which is very disappointing given the publicity we gave to this campaign.

"We'd expect people to be more responsible because people have been maimed and killed by fireworks. It's like giving children a loaded gun."

Last year two shopkeepers in Long Eaton were given a conditional discharge after selling fireworks to children under 18.

They were ordered to pay costs of more than �900.

Exploding fireworks

Councillor Swain added: "Last year I was disappointed that a number of people were caught and not given the maximum fine.

"The child volunteers are clearly under-age and they've been sold fireworks. That's why we need to take steps."

The Trading Standards Institute is also calling for tougher restrictions on safety to help reduce the hundreds of injuries caused each year by fireworks.

Trading standards officials said it regards teenagers as the main cause of concern, often breaking the law by setting fireworks off in public places.

As a result, they say reducing the availability of fireworks is an effective means of control.

David Roderick, from the Trading Standards Institute, said: "We're not seeking to ban fireworks totally, but we would obviously like to see more responsible use.

"Because of the large number of complaints about young people misusing fireworks, trading standards officers will be carrying out test purchasing exercises to ensure they are only sold to people over 18."