FIREWORKS "like landmines" have been exploding around York, with frightened residents complaining that their peace is being shattered.

Shopkeepers were warned today that they are facing the toughest crackdown yet on sales to youngsters.

Residents from Heworth to Bishophill reported hearing thundering bangs throughout yesterday afternoon and evening.

There have been other reports from South Bank, Foxwood and Hull Road.

Several of the rockets are thought to have come from the St Nicholas Fields area and have left residents in fear.

"These are no ordinary fireworks, they sound to me like maroon rockets or distress flares," said Lee Maloney, of Millfield Avenue, off Lawrence Street.

"If somebody fired one of those at your house it would be like a mortar bomb through your front window. One was so loud it actually shook our house, the windows actually rattled when it exploded, and that wasn't even that near us."

"They are almost like landmines," said Esther Harris, of Fifth Avenue, Heworth.

"I live in sheltered housing with my husband who has a heart complaint, and and are really vulnerable if they keep getting frightened like this. There are lots of elderly people in their 90s who are terrified by all the noise."

Both Mrs Harris and Mr Maloney complained that police dismissed their concerns, saying it was a matter for the council, not them.

Mr Maloney said: "If the police are really supposed to be into crime prevention, then surely they should be round there doing something about it and making arrests before it does get worse."

Evening Press reader Ella Hirst complained in last night's later editions of loud explosions in South Bank, while Bernard Sawdon said there had been "explosive noises" in the Hull Road area for a couple of weeks.

Foxwood was also rocked yesterday afternoon.

Evening Press reporter Mike Laycock said: "I was sitting in my car, about to go and interview someone, when there was what sounded like a loud bang on my roof, as it if had been hit by a heavy football.

"But when I got out to see if it had been dented, I realised there was nothing there and someone said it must have been a large mortar firework going off. I later found some firework debris about 20 yards from my car."

City of York Council Trading Standards officers said today they are planning to send out people aged under 18 to shops around the city to make test purchases.

Any trader who sells fireworks to them risks prosecution and a hefty fine, said Colin Rumford, head of environmental health and trading standards.

"We have done this in the past, but it will be more intense this year because of an increasing number of complaints and the council's strategy of taking a tough line on street nuisances."

But he said the council could not do anything yet about any shops which have apparently already started selling fireworks, more than a month before Bonfire Night.

He said there was only a voluntary code in place at present, under which shops agreed to sell fireworks only three weeks before November 5, and for a week afterwards, so as to reduce the nuisance to residents.

However, legislation would be in place before next year's Bonfire Night which will strengthen controls, and this would be enforced by his department.

A North Yorkshire police spokeswoman said today: "It is not a police matter." And she added: "If we went out to every single phone call, we would not have the resources to deal with emergencies as they came up."

Do you know who is already selling fireworks? Contact Mike Laycock on 01904 567132, or email mike.laycock@ycp.co.uk.

Updated: 10:48 Thursday, October 02, 2003