Fireworks

• Bonfire Night: November 5th (until midnight) 
• Diwali Day: November 12th (until 1am) 
• New Year's Eve: December 31st (until 1am) 
• Chinese New Year: February 9th (until 1am)

Firework Legislation

• Since August 7th 2004, it's been a criminal offence to let off fireworks between 11pm and 7am and anyone breaking the curfew risks a fine of up to £5,000 or six months imprisonment. 
• The curfew applies for 361 nights of the year but the legislation has identified four occasions as "permitted firework nights", which extend the hours of firework use. These are Bonfire Night (when there's an extension until midnight), Diwali Day (which has an extension until 1am), New Year's Eve (1am) and Chinese New Year (1am). 
• Other new legislation introduced this year makes it an offence for anyone under 18 to be in possession of fireworks in a public place and the police have new powers to issue fixed penalty notices to anyone breaking the law. 
• The legislation also covers the sale of noisy fireworks: it's now illegal to sell fireworks that are louder than 120 decibels. 
• Further regulations will be introduced in the New Year. From January 1st, fireworks will only be on general sale between October 15th and November 10th and for short periods around New Year, Chinese New Year and Diwali. Suppliers who want to sell fireworks outside these periods will need to apply for a licence from the Borough Council. 
• Tighter controls on the import of fireworks will also be introduced.