An under-age boy has been able to buy fireworks in D&A Toys in Chatham.

In an investigation by the Centre for Journalism’s Newswire, two 17-year olds went in search of fireworks, despite the legal age for buying them being 18.

Sam Bell found that the toyshop didn’t even question his age and happily sold rockets to him.

At the store where he bought them, the cabinet where the fireworks are kept had a poster stuck to it that reads: “It is illegal to sell adult fireworks to anyone under the age of 18.”

When the Newswire confronted the sales assistant about the illegal sale, she replied: “‘Was he under 18? Sorry. It was just because he really did look quite old. I usually do it all the time.”

The store thanked the Newswire for highlighting the problem and said they would check in future.

Only last week the Trading Standards Team in Chatham warned that fines of up to £5,000 would be handed out to anyone caught not abiding by the law.

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