Anti-firework campaigners in Bradford today demanded that the Government toughens up its Fireworks Act.

The Act, parts of which will come into force by Christmas, is designed to combat the noise and nuisance which can be caused by fireworks.

Among its powers will be a ban on anyone under 18 possessing fireworks in a public place, outlawing the largest and most powerful fireworks and doubling fixed penalties for people caught throwing fireworks in the street to £80.

But Bradford Councillor Tony Niland, a member of the West Yorkshire Fire Authority, called for the Act to ban fireworks from anything but licensed displays.

"I think this legislation falls short of what it could do," he said. "I don't think people should be allowed to have community fires and displays for say just 60 or 70 people without a licence because this could help fireworks fall into the hands of thugs and tearaways."

Mr Niland also called for a three week 'firework sale window' to be opened in late October and early November. He said the Government's decision to allow the year-round sale of fireworks "fell way short" of what he would have liked to see introduced. He also said the legal age to buy fireworks should be raised from 18 to 21.

Anti-firework campaigner Teresa Kulkarni, who organised and delivered a national 92,000 signature petition to Downing Street in May from her Norfolk home, joined the criticism of the legislation. She also wants the Government to restrict fireworks to licensed displays only.

"All of this misuse of fireworks besides being very frightening, very dangerous and life-threatening, is stopping our police and fire brigade from dealing with all real emergencies," she said.

"This is also costing us, the taxpayers, a lot of money, to replace public property and call out the emergency services."

Elizabeth Hellmich, the co-ordinator of Bradford's SAFE project which promotes safety in the community and a member of Bradford Council's Fireworks Task Group, warned that without extra enforcement on the ground the legislation would be difficult to put into practice.

But she said if further legislation was passed, imposing a blanket ban on firework sales to the public could create an illegal black market.

"We have to be careful because if too much legislation is passed the sale of fireworks would go underground and we would see them being illegally brought into the country, from countries such as India," she said.

"This could lead to problems as the fireworks could be highly dangerous and certainly wouldn't be up to the suitable standard."

She added: "There have got to be people on the ground to enforce these changes and the police force is over-stretched as it is.

"It will be difficult to prosecute people throwing fireworks unless an officer actually sees it happen.

"To be honest I'll be surprised if it makes much difference at all. It's got to be seen to make a difference before it actually does."

Nine Royal Mail post boxes in Bradford had to be fitted with protective grilles in the past few weeks after fireworks were pushed into them.

RSPCA spokesman Helen Briggs said the charity was also unhappy with the Government's proposed firework noise limit of 120 decibels, which she said was comparable with a jet aircraft taking off.

"We believe that the round of legislation to be introduced by Christmas is a step in the right direction. But the next round, particularly the proposed noise limit, is not stringent enough.

"Our research has shown that 120 decibels is the equivalent of a jet aircraft taking off and we are pushing for a limit of 95 decibels, the equivalent of a house door slamming."

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford Council's executive member for the environment, said: "The selling of fireworks to people under 18 is simply not responsible. But a lot of people just want to enjoy themselves on bonfire night and the majority use them as a celebratory device.

"Having said that they should be carefully handled and it is far better if displays are run by people who understand how to handle them properly."

The Telegraph & Argus's letters pages have featured numerous readers' complaints about fireworks with many calling for them to be withdrawn from open sale.

One was from Dave Pask, of Buttershaw, Bradford, who said: They maim and even kill" .

"The world is a dangerous enough place now without letting idiots run round with explosives."

As reported in yesterday's T&A an elderly blind woman and her guide dog were left terrified when thugs shot fireworks at them. And in a separate incident two horse riders were shot at with rockets as they rode at a beauty spot near Haworth.

Hospital figures show 35 people were treated for fireworks injuries last year in Bradford. 24 were children.

The Government has already begun consultations on implementing the rest of the Fireworks Act and will publish draft regulations in the new year to introduce further measures.