The long overdue legislation aimed at combating the anti-social use of fireworks is a damp squib

It is yet another long on rhetoric but short on action set of regulations, designed to pacify the public with the Government trying to keep a foot in both camps.

It sounds all well and good -- for example Consumer minister Gerry Sutcliffe says the government will not tolerate the harassment, intimidation and, in the worst cases, serious harm fireworks can cause.

He says that by tightening up the rules governing the use and sale of fireworks, and introducing tough penalties for people who break them, they are tackling the issue of firework safety and their anti-social use.

Fine words, but the question must be asked: how realistic will they be in practice? In the real world they will fizzle out and stay that way until a total ban on their sale to the public is imposed or they can only be bought by qualified people with licences.

On the basis that neither is likely to happen in the immediate future, hard pressed trading standards officers, the police and other agencies are left trying to make the so-called tough new powers work.

Just how many people does the Government think these bodies have available to be out and about carrying out checks and handing out on-the-spot fines?

When a terrified pensioner puts in a call late at night asking for help, how long will it take for officers to arrive and what in all honesty can they do when they get there?

One idea is worth pursuing -- the call on good citizens to report any suspicions they may have about shopkeepers selling fireworks to children.

We would urge people to heed this call and treat the appeal with the same sense of urgency they did when it came to "dobbing in" drug dealers.

Please make a note of the number 08454 040506 and use it.