COMMUNITY safety wardens in Newport received more than 200 complaints about firework misuse in less than two months last year, it is revealed in a new report.

But there was good news on the fireworks issue - 45 shops refused to sell them to four under-15 volunteers, according to Trading Standards.

For the community safety warden service, the season began on September 27 and the first 29 incidents were all from Somerton residents about fireworks being thrown in the streets.

Wardens dealt 205 incidents - compared with 210 in 2003 - with a total of 55 in Somerton, 28 in St Julians, 19 in Ringland and 14 in Bettws, while in other areas the complaints were in single figures.

The report to the council's community safety forum, by senior warden Phil Andrews and trading standards manager Matthew Cridland, said new legislation limited the sale of fireworks to the public and introduced a curfew for letting them off.

But, they pointed out: "The curfew/street restrictions are enforced by the police and can be difficult to enforce."

And, as their report said, it is the elderly that suffer particularly from the fear of fireworks nuisance.

The council's fireworks campaign was co-ordinated across several organisations, including the police, fire service and schools.

"Needless to say there are still too many incidents of youths throwing or letting fireworks off in the street, which is clearly dangerous as well as anti-social. Many residents phoned in asking for fireworks sales to be banned."

In October, Trading Standards officers took action to ensure retailers were complying with firework regulations.

Mr Cridland reported that contraventions of storage requirements were found in the majority of the 74 premises they visited.

"In most cases these were rectified while the inspector was present but in seven premises there was a need to leave clear instructions how to comply and re-visit."

In October, 45 shops were visited by under-15 volunteers who attempted to buy fireworks but in each case the sale was refused.