THE LAW AROUND FIREWORK USAGE

• Only adults 18 or over should handle and light fireworks.
• Never go back to a firework once it's lit, even if it looks like it hasn't gone off.
• Keep a bucket of water or a hose within reach.
• Check the safety distance printed on every firework: 8m for F2, 25m for F3.
• Read the instructions on each firework, every time.
• Light at arm's length with a portfire or long-reach lighter, never a match.

• Choose a space big enough for the safety distances of everything you're firing.
• Point fireworks away from buildings, fences and trees.
• Clear the firing area of dry leaves and anything flammable.
• Mark a clear spectator zone behind the safety line.
• Keep water, a first aid kit and a charged phone close by.
• Use a torch to read labels and fuses in the dark.
• Stand cakes and fountains on firm, flat ground; dig rockets into soft earth or use a launch tube.

Sparklers burn at over 1,500°C — hot enough to melt glass — so treat them with real care.

• Never give a sparkler to a child under 5.
• Wear gloves, even as an adult.
• Hold them at arm's length, away from the face and body, and light one at a time.
• No running with a sparkler.
• Avoid loose or synthetic clothing.
• Drop spent sparklers straight into water — they stay hot for minutes after going out.

Children should never handle, light or approach fireworks, and should stay well behind the safety line. Don't let them pick up spent fireworks, which can still be hot. Sparklers are only suitable for children aged 5 and over, with gloves and adult supervision.

No firework is safe to aim at another person — it's a criminal offence carrying an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison, and even a small firework can cause severe burns or eye injuries at close range. This applies to every type of firework, sparklers included.

• Cool the burn under cool (not ice-cold) running water for at least 10 minutes.
• Don't pull away clothing stuck to the burn — cut around it instead.
• Cover loosely with cling film.
• Never apply creams, butter or ice.
• Get medical help for any burn bigger than a 50p coin, on the face, hands or joints, or on a child.

You must be 18 or over to buy F2 (garden) and F3 (display) fireworks. F1 items, like indoor fireworks and party poppers, can be sold from 16. It's also illegal for anyone under 18 to have fireworks in a public place.

Fireworks must not be set off between 11pm and 7am on most nights. This is extended to midnight on Bonfire Night, and 1am on New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year. You don't need a special occasion — any night is fine outside curfew hours.

• F1 — indoor fireworks, 1m safety distance, sold from 16.
• F2 — garden fireworks, 8m safety distance, sold from 18.
• F3 — display fireworks, 25m safety distance, sold from 18.
• F4 — professional use only, not sold to the public.

We sell F1, F2 and F3 fireworks.

No. Members of the public don't need a licence or permit to buy or use F1, F2 or F3 fireworks — you just need to meet the age requirement. Retailers, on the other hand, must hold a licence from their local authority and pass regular inspections.

Your own garden or private land is fine, as is someone else's with their permission. Public places — streets, parks, car parks — are against the law.

Misusing fireworks — in public places, outside curfew hours, or selling to under-18s — can result in an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison.

• Keep them somewhere cool and dry, away from heat sources and children.
• Leave them in their original packaging until you're ready to use them.
• Check for damage before use — don't use anything dented, damp or looking worn.
• Domestic storage shouldn't exceed 48 consecutive days; larger quantities may need a licence.

Leave spent fireworks for at least 30 minutes after the display, then soak them in a bucket of water for at least 24 hours before bagging them up and putting them in your household waste. Never recycle them.

You can return unused fireworks to your retailer, keep them for next time (stored correctly, they'll last), or soak them in water for at least 48 hours before disposing of them in your household waste.

Never go back to it. Wait at least 30 minutes, then carefully place it in a bucket of water and leave it submerged for at least 24 hours before disposing of it in household waste.