A TRADER could face prosecution after being caught storing more than a tonne of fireworks at his shop.

The man, who was not at Fireworks Shop, Locksbottom, at the time, had told council officials he only had 250kg.

Despite being required by law to store them in metal containers, some of the explosives were loose in the Crofton Road store, which had only opened a few days before trading standards officers and police visited last Tuesday.

The fireworks, worth about £6,000, were taken away to be safely stored at two separate sites.

Bromley Council's head of commercial services Clive Davison said: "The person who runs the business was not there at the time but we will be looking to prosecute him when he has been tracked down."

In a separate investigation, a 15-year-old working undercover with trading standards officers was illegally sold two large packets of rockets by a trader in Cotmandene Crescent, Orpington, last Wednesday.

Trading standards and police are pledging "firm action" to clamp down on fireworks misuse and are running a special anti- social behaviour operation on November 4 and 5.

A "task force" will be deployed in the borough to police abuses in line with new powers, which ban fireworks being let off between 11pm and 7am except on Bonfire Night. It is also an offence for anyone under 18 to possess a firework in a public place.

From January 1, traders who want to sell fireworks all year round, will be required to buy a £500 licence from the council.

Councillor Colin Smith, executive member for community safety, said: "While we don't want to be killjoys we're urging people to use their fireworks with greater consideration for others.

"We are also asking shopkeepers to play their part by monitoring exactly who they are selling to."

Call the council's out of hours line on 020 8464 4848 to report a fireworks-related nuisance.