Trading Standards seize hundreds of fireworks from Glasgow barber's shop at block of tenement flats

A barber’s shop in Glasgow is under investigation after inspectors uncovered hundreds of fireworks stored unsafely.

Trading Standards officers swooped in on the premises in the Southside of the city on October 18 and carried out an inspection after receiving a tip off that fireworks were being sold.

Around 250 rockets were discovered on the premises, which is located among tenement flats, raising safety concerns.

Investigations by Trading Standards are continuing into the discovery and could result in a report to the procurator fiscal.

Gary Walker, Glasgow City Council’s head of community safety and regulatory services, said: “Fireworks can be extremely dangerous if not stored correctly and Trading Standards work closely with colleagues in Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue to help keep communities safe by ensuring retailers comply with the law.”

Every year, Glasgow’s Trading Standards team vet retailers who apply for licences to store pyrotechnics.

Strict safety checks are carried out to ensure fireworks, which are essentially explosives, can be stored safely and securely.

Last year, 66 premises in Glasgow, ranging from large supermarkets to small independent retailers, were granted licences.

Businesses that can’t provide safe storage facilities will have their applications refused and licences can be revoked if they’re later found to be storing fireworks unsafely, storing more than their licence permits, selling to anyone under the age of 18, or contravening other relevant legislation.

Next year, new legislation giving councils more powers around the sale and use of fireworks is due to come into force.

It includes the powers to create designated Firework Control Zones where the use of fireworks would be banned – even on private land.

The measures are designed to help tackle dangerous misuse of fireworks.

On October 10 ahead of Bonfire Night, new powers making it a criminal offence for anyone to supply fireworks to people under the age of 18 came into force.

The legislation builds on steps taken last year restricting the times fireworks can be used, when they can be bought, and the quantity.