A businessman who stored over 60 boxes of fireworks illegally has been hit in the pocket to the tune of more than £1,000 by magistrates.
Trading standards officers say the case should serve as a warning to others in the run-up to Bonfire Night.
Burnley Magistrates Court heard that on November 5, 2015 Lancashire County Council (LCC) officers received a tip-off about fireworks being stored illegally in Church.
Upon entering the unit at C&C Distribution Limited on Technology Business Park, Duckworth Street, the officers found more than 60 transit boxes containing fireworks.
Around half of these boxes were on the ground floor close to the exit of the premises with the remaining boxes being stored in an upstairs room.
Some of the boxes were open with fireworks exposed, and other combustible materials were nearby. Two people were found working in the unit, close to the fireworks.
Peter Jackson pleaded guilty to two offences under the Explosives Regulations 2014 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, on October 21.
Under these rules businesses storing fireworks must be licensed with their local authority so that checks can be made to ensure they are kept safely.
Jackson, 42, of Maple Street, Great Harwood, pleaded guilty at Burnley Magistrates Court to storing explosives without a licence and failing to take appropriate measures to prevent and limit the extent of fire or explosion.
He was fined £320 and ordered to pay costs of £740.
The fireworks were seized and destroyed under Health and Safety legislation.
Despite already holding licences for two other shop premises, Jackson admitted he had been foolish in not seeking a licence for this store and that in hindsight he should have stored them better.
He said the fireworks had been intended for sale in his two shops but due to restrictions on quantities he could store in the shops he had kept them in his company’s premises.
County Councillor Azhar Ali, LCC’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “The laws around safe storage of fireworks are vital to ensure public safety in Lancashire.
“I hope this serves as a warning to others who are selling fireworks in the run up to Bonfire Night to take their responsibilities seriously.”
