A health and safety warning has been put on youngsters waving around sparklers at fireworks displays this weekend.

For example, organisers of the Richmond's premiere display at the Athletic Ground on Sunday night have imposed a ban – following a trend at public displays across the country.

There have been repeated reports of anti-social behaviour across the borough linked to youths and fireworks in recent days.

And it remains relatively easy for youths to get hold of boxes of fireworks on most high streets, however it seems youngsters twirling a sparkler are considered a menace.

The ticket information for what promises to be a spectacular fireworks show together with a fun fair, stalls, food and drink in Richmond, warns: "Please do not bring sparklers or any other type of firework with you. They are not allowed in the ground and will be confiscated during the bag search."

Exactly, these same sparkler ban rules apply to virtually all the major organised bonfire events across the country this weekend.

For example, the website for the famous Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival reads: "For your safety and for the safety of others please do not bring the following into the Park: Fireworks, Sparklers, Pets, Glass Bottles, Alcohol, Flares, Camping Chairs.'

Chairman of the British Fireworks Association, Steve Raper, backed the bans.

'The last thing you need is a large crowd of people, some with small children, being surrounded by strangers waving sparklers; they have no control over what they do. That is an unsafe and uncontrolled environment,' he said.

Mr Raper said the industry has seen particularly strong sales to members of the public this year.

'Firework sales to the public are stronger than ever. They remain an incredibly popular item and the lockdown period of 2020 saw a massive surge in new users because they could not attend organised events,' he said.

'Even though organised events have restarted, fireworks have returned to home use.

'The majority, who have not fired fireworks themselves before, are coming back to us and commenting how much they enjoyed it with friends and family, and how safe they felt.'

He added: 'There are often calls for public to only attend organised events but home use has far more benefits than people realise, and doing so is safer in many other ways too.'

Despite these reassurances, there are campaigns across the country to ban sales of fireworks other than to organised displays, not least to avoid distressing pets.

Sainsbury's has banned sales from its stores. It told customers: 'We are no longer selling fireworks based on a range of factors.

'You can continue to choose from a range of seasonal products, such as glow sticks and light-up spinning wands.'