The number of injuries caused by fireworks is increasing

In Cardiff, council officers carrying out an undercover investigation found one in five shops would sell rockets and bangers to children.

In a test of 52 shops in the run up to Bonfire Night, 10 sold fireworks to children aged 14 or 15 posing as customers on behalf of trading standards.

Shopkeepers breaking the law in this way could face a �5,000 maximum fine or six months in prison, if prosecuted and convicted.

The number of injuries from fireworks continues to grow.

Last year, 73 people were treated for fireworks injuries at NHS hospitals in Wales, up from 64 the previous year.

Bangers were the main causes of injury with the number rising from six in 2001 to 17 last year.

Nearly half of all injuries (33) occurred to children under 15.

A group of youths fired a rocket and it hit one of my colleagues and exploded after deflecting off the side of his face Pc Paul Tebbit

In the undercover investigation, volunteers had to ask for an item from the shop's fireworks selection and were not allowed to lie about their age or pretend to be adults.

A spokesman for Cardiff's trading standards said: "Some of [the fireworks] are classified as 25m distance you should be away from some of these things.

"Fireworks like this you certainly wouldn't want in the hands of young children."

But some shopkeepers say they are trying their best to prevent fireworks from being sold illegally to children.

One Cardiff retailer, who did not want to be identified, said: "It is a problem.

"We try to put them out as late as we can because once you do put them out, the kids are coming in trying to buy them.

"The other problem we get is adults trying to buy for them as well.

Shops can be fined �5,000 for illegal firework sales

"It's no problem to ask them, are they definitely for yourself, and if not, point out it's an offence for kids to have fireworks."

Pc Paul Tebbit, who works in the Fairwater area of Cardiff, said the time around Bonfire Night was his busiest of the year.

"This time of year can be very busy with youth annoyance calls, Halloween and Bonfire night all merging into one.

"Most of the calls are fireworks going off in the street, late at night or where there are old people.

"We had an incident last week when a group of youths fired a rocket and it hit one of my colleagues and exploded after deflecting off the side of his face."

And he added that he thought firework sales should be banned.

'Wrong hands'

"From a personal point of view, I think fireworks should just be for public displays and not sold, as they always fall into the wrong hands."

Cardiff Councillor Lynda Thorne said the actions of a small number of people meant a ban on firework sales had to be considered.

"Because of the irresponsible behaviour of a few we need to take action and maybe ban fireworks."

And John Munton, of Cardiff Neighbourhood Watch, said that youths throwing fireworks were part of a wider problem of anti-social behaviour.

"If we could curb anti-social behaviour then life would be a lot better," he said.