TRADERS across Worcestershire have proven they keep to the letter of the law and do not sell fireworks to underage youngsters.

In a covert operation by Trading Standards, no retailers were prepared to sell fireworks to children under 18.

Volunteer children aged 13 and 14 were sent to shops across the county to make test purchases of fireworks at shops registered to sell them.

A total of 50 shops were visited across Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire and Warwickshire as part of the Crossing the Boundaries partnership.

Trading Standards officers said the findings were a huge improvement on previous years, and it was very pleasing traders seemed to be switched on about their responsibility not to sell fireworks to underage children.

"It was particularly pleasing to find in Worcestershire none of the 15 premises visited was prepared to break the law by selling fireworks to children under 18," said Trading Standards operations manager Steve Birch.

"A similar outcome was found by our regional partners, with just one isolated sale in Shropshire.

"It's very important retailers don't sell fireworks to young people, as over half of those injured by fireworks each year are children.

"We want to work together with responsible traders, by way of business advice and the promotion of a proof of age card through schools and colleges to help identify the true ages of buyers of age-restricted products."

The sale of fireworks is regulated by the Firework Safety Regulations of 1997, and shopkeepers breaking the rules could be in line for a fine of up to £5,000.