BONFIRE night revellers were warned today not to let off potentially dangerous Catherine Wheels, some of which have been found to fall from their mounts.

Trading Standards officers spoke out after seizing more than 100 large Whizz Wheel fireworks on sale in North Yorkshire towns including Harrogate, Malton, Thirsk and Bedale.

They said that when tested some were found to fall off their mounts while lit and continue to spin on the ground.

About 11,000 of the fireworks - which are on sale to the public - have been imported into the country.

And officers are concerned that some may have already been sold and could be ignited at a family bonfire party.

Anyone who has bought one is advised to return it to the retailer for a refund.

Gordon Gresty, head of North Yorkshire Trading Standards, said: "This is a large, display-type firework which can also be bought by members of the public.

"The potential danger is obvious and I would urge any consumers who have purchased this firework to return it to retailers immediately."

Trading standards officers are investigating how the unsafe fireworks were supplied. Legal proceedings may follow.

Martin Guest, operations director for the Staffordshire suppliers of the Whizz Wheel, Black Cat Ltd, said: "Since this fault has been identified we have sought to ensure that all of the potentially dangerous products are removed from sale.

"We have been able to correct the fault in our current supplies and these (safe fireworks) are marked 'long nail supplied'.

"Safety is a most important factor for everyone involved in fireworks. As the country's largest importer of fireworks we take pride in our reputation for checking the safety of everything we sell."

In York, trading standards officers are investigating after a shop allegedly sold fireworks to a 14-year-old child during council checks on whether a ban on sales to under-18s was being obeyed.

Two 14-year-olds were sent to all 45 shops registered as currently selling fireworks in the city to try to buy fireworks.

They were refused service in all but one because they were not 18, the legal minimum age.

Stuart Benson, principal trading standards officer at the City of York Council, said: "Congratulations are due to York retailers who are clearly taking notice of the law and who have adopted a responsible attitude."

Assistant Divisional Officer Roy Ashman, of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "If parents find their children below the age of 18 having bought fireworks I would urge them to pass on the information to their local trading standards office."

A five-year-old boy was forced to hand over his "penny for the guy" money in Scarborough's Balmoral Centre yesterday afternoon. Three boys aged 11, 12 and 14, were arrested near Aberdeen Street, Scarborough, after the youngster's £5 collection was taken.

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