Brian - oh yes, in Spain, they have some kind of special dispensation on EU rules to protect their culture since fireworks/crackers are such a big part of it. In Sitges, during festivals, you see lots of kids throwing down firecrackers and lighting Roman candles - admittedly, they are small ones and they're not throwing at people and leaving the candles well alone. In fact, I'm almost amazed at how dogs etc out there don't seem to bat an eyelid at them.

There's nothing inherently unsafe about fireworks in responsible hands. Why shouldn't a family be able to buy them and set them off in the garden to save having to get kids organised, hike them to a display where I'm sure the parking will cause local residents nightmares and then have them end up cranky because it's well past their bed times.

Like most things that this nanny state legislates against, there's little wrong in moderation. It's just that there seems to an ever-growing minority who want rights for no responsibility who seem to want to spoil things for the rest of us.