The costs of controlling fireworks are mounting

Exploding at 1,000C, the rockets are just one type of the potentially-deadly style of fireworks being imported and sold illegally in the UK.

But officials say it is difficult to snuff out the trade in these devastating fireworks.

They claim thousands of the rockets are brought into the country to be sold on without proper controls.

A growing number of celebrations now demand pyrotechnic displays all year round resulting in a hugely expanded industry.

But recently the use of bigger, these more explosive devices have hit the headlines after being used in various incidents to destroy property from cars to telephone boxes.

While all fireworks pose a potential risk, the most powerful are those which are used by professional organisers of displays, such as shells. Their sale to the public is banned.

Special measures and equipment should be used to set off these fireworks according to Ron Rapley, technical director of UK firework distributors Black Cat Fireworks.

"Used in the wrong hands can be very dangerous, taking a life is possible," he warned.

Fireworks Act 2003 The government can: impose a noise limit of 120 decibels ban their use during anti-social hours license people who sell fireworks allow local authorities to refuse and revoke licenses create a compulsory training course for operators of public firework displays Consultations will take place next year on the draft regulations

He said unregistered traders are understood to be responsible for the illegal availability of such fireworks in the UK.

Large consignments are believed to be being shipped in from China and sold to anyone who wants them.

Chief fire officer Barry O'Donnell of South Yorkshire Fire Service said: "It is only a matter of time before something goes wrong."

He said he feared for his firefighters entering buildings where fireworks were stored illegally.

"There are far too many people allowed access to them who don't know how to properly use them."

New legislation under the Fireworks Act gives the government power to tighten up on the sale and anti-social use of fireworks.

But chief superintendent Paul Forrester, of Merseyside Police reckons the problem is the imported fireworks which go "missing", which he believes could account for as much as 20% of the trade.

"The ports are typically receiving 40-feet-long container cargos with a retail value of about �250,000," he said.

A lot of the stuff was enough to take out a couple of houses Paul Forrester, Merseyside Police

"These are being broken up into smaller amounts and sold from kitchens, gardens, or even the back of cars and vans.

He said officers had recently seized 92 crates of display fireworks discovered in a house along with illegal drugs and weapons. "A lot of the stuff was enough to take out a couple of houses," he said.

But Customs and Excise press officer David Zwiret said: "The vast majority of fireworks are legally licensed with storage available to them and are declared. They are not smuggled or illegal.

"We work closely with the Health and Safety Executive sharing information and have effective controls in place with evidence of where they go."

He admitted once the fireworks were inside the country customs had no responsibility for what happened to them.

Professionals are trained to use powerful fireworks

Trading standards officer Nigel Houlston, from Telford & Wrekin Council, said they had good links with the public and legal traders who kept them informed of black market sales.

He said: "Shopkeepers know we are about, we visit every licensed and previously licensed firework sellers and tell then what our campaign is about."

He said he was disappointed the government had not yet created any regulations under the new act.

"Firework abuse is a nuisance which because it occurs only occasionally does take up Parliament's time, so it is left to local authorities to sweep up the mess and it is going to get worse," he said.

A spokeswoman from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said they were committed to implementing the act but admitted many of the new laws would not apply in time for this bonfire night.

She said the new rules governing public firework displays, importation of fireworks and training of display operators would not be started till after Christmas.