Melanie Johnson

Consumer minister Melanie Johnson has announced that the government is to ban the sale of "air bomb" fireworks from next January.

The Home Office has also announced plans to impose £40 spot fines on people caught throwing fireworks.

Forum Response: Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Robin Hutchinson, head of communications at Guide Dogs, told ePolitix.com: "Banning the sale of air bombs is a very positive step by the government and one we warmly welcome. However, we hope that this is the first, very small, step towards introducing restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks.

"Every year, we have to retire a number of guide dogs because they have been injured or traumatised by fireworks. The cost to the dogs themselves, their owners and the association is huge - and avoidable.

"We have to ensure that the fun that fireworks offer millions every year is not replaced with misery. Reducing the noise fireworks make, limiting their periods of sale, licensing firework vendors and show organisers and requiring organisers to notify neighbours of forthcoming events will go a long way towards preventing that misery."

"On the spot £40 fines are all well and good, and may send out the right signal, but when you consider the cost of blindness, the cost of training and keeping guide dogs and the enormous damage that irresponsible use of fireworks can do, the amount is paltry.

"Parking a car on a yellow line in Westminster will cost the driver double the amount they might be fined for endangering someone's sight, livelihood or, even their life. We need to get this issue in perspective, realise its importance and deal with it accordingly. Fining vandals little more than pocket money is no replacement for a well thought through strategy on fireworks."