A BOROUGH councillor's petition to restrict dangerous fireworks attracted more than 2,000 signatures in its first week.
Ian Ormerod wants to clamp down on large rockets and bangers which have been creating havoc in Ellesmere Port and across the UK this autumn.
He put his petition in council buildings and shops across the town, and is happy to see it receiving widespread support from the public.
Cllr Ormerod (Lab, Strawberry Fields) said: 'It has been very successful so far, and there are still a lot of sheets to be collected. We will leave it running until after Christmas.'
The petition calls on Parliament to ban the use and sale of fireworks to individual members of the public, apart from for licensed and organised firework displays.
Cllr Ormerod said: 'I'm not against Bonfire Night or organised displays at all, and I'm not a killjoy.
'What I'm trying to get away from is the misuse of fireworks, particularly large and potentially-dangerous ones.
'Years ago, you just used to have fireworks on Bonfire Night. But now they are being let off in the run-up to and well beyond Bonfire Night, usually into the New Year.'
Cllr Ormerod applauds a Private Member's Bill to restrict the sale of the more-powerful fireworks, which is currently going through Parliament.
'I know our local MP, Andrew Miller, has played a big part in this Bill, and I thank him for that,' he said. MEASURES to crack down on firework terror have been unveiled by Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt.
To tackle the anti-social use of fireworks by teenagers, and the problems of noise and nuisance, the Government announced that before Christmas: The possession of fireworks by under-18s in public places will be made illegal The possession of the largest, most powerful, category four fireworks will be outlawed for all members of the public Fixed penalty notices for people caught throwing fireworks in the street will be doubled to £80 under the penalty notice for disorder scheme currently being rolled out nationally.
