New powers stopping the sale and use of 'super fireworks' will be vigorously enforced in the run-up to bonfire night.

And shopkeepers who breach new legislation, which came into force in August, face fines of up to £5,000 or six months in prison.

Trading standards officers, working with police and fire officers, will use undercover inspections to trap retailers selling illegal fireworks or selling to under-age children.

It will be the biggest-ever crackdown in Bradford to stop homes being blighted by deafening fireworks which can be louder that jet engines.

Teams will begin enforcing the new legislation from October 15 when sales of fireworks officially begin, and officers will use their powers to confiscate fireworks and prosecute offenders.

The Firework Regulations 2004 came into force after a long campaign by consumer minister and Bradford MP Gerry Sutcliffe. This year's bonfire season will be the first test of his long-fought-for legislation. Officers can confiscate fireworks they suspect are louder than the new 120 decibel limit, and carry out controlled tests measuring their volume.

Pat Harter, enforcement officer at West Yorkshire trading standards, said her team would be making full use of its new powers: "Where we suspect fireworks come from illegal sources we will be seizing them, testing them and finding out where they came from so we can follow it up the supply chain.

"Anyone prosecuted faces a £5,000 fine or six months in jail. Magistrates take a serious view of this - it is not just about anti-social behaviour, it is about risk of injury to vulnerable groups like children.

"This legislation has been very important, we have been looking for something to help us for some time."

The new campaign strategy will employ everything from mail drops to under cover inspections.

Police teams will also analyse reports from last year's fireworks season to identify which areas are complaint 'hotspots' so they can be targeted more efficiently.

Chief Inspector Mick Quirk, West Yorkshire Police's senior anti-social behaviour officer, said: "Along with trading standards we are determined to stamp out firework problems because it is a nuisance which blights many people's lives."

Last year 14 people were treated in Bradford hospitals for firework-related injuries during the bonfire season - an improvement on previous years.

Elizabeth Hellmich, of Safe Areas for Everyone, said: "Parts of the legislation are going to be difficult to enforce because there are not the police on the ground to do it, however we are 100 per cent behind the law.

"Everybody has to work together for this to succeed - it was proved last year when we got a 60 per cent reduction in fireworks-related injuries here in Bradford - that was achieved through all the agencies working together."

Among the new measures are:

l Possession of fireworks by under-18s in a public place and possession by any amateur of professional display fireworks are criminal offences

l Fireworks cannot be used between 11pm and 7am except on designated 'firework nights' such as November 5

l It is an offence to supply fireworks which are louder than 120 decibels

l All suppliers must display a notice warning of new age restrictions

From January 1, 2005 selling fireworks all year round will need a licence, and importers must produce information on storage locations and who they sell them on to.

Members of West Yorkshire's Joint Services committee are expected to approve the new trading standards joint strategy when they meet next week.

Anyone with any concerns about the illegal sale or use of fireworks should contact West Yorkshire trading standards consumer direct line on 08454 040506.