Safety campaigners are stepping up efforts to ensure an injury-free Guy Fawkes Night on November 5 with warnings about misusing fireworks.

With Bonfire Night less than two weeks away, parents and children are being reminded about the dangers of fireworks by emergency services and community watchdogs.

There were 17 firework-related injuries in Bradford during last year's celebrations, almost half the 38 reported around the county.

Ten injuries were to people aged 25 or under, and three of those to children under the age of ten.

Firework safety campaigner and neighbourhood watch co-ordinator Elizabeth Hellmich said it was up to parents to teach their children safety rules.

She said: "I came home on Sunday and found several fireworks called Thunder Bombs in my back garden where someone had obviously thrown them in.

"And just a couple of days ago I saw a young lad walking with a handful of fireworks in the Whetley area. He shouldn't even have had them.

"The general use of fireworks became a lot worse when people realised there was no actual law against selling the products all year round, it was just a gentleman's agreement."

Mrs Hellmich said the last three weeks have seen an escalation in the use of fireworks with several of the larger types setting off car alarms and shaking house windows.

She said: "A lot of children put fireworks in some sort of container before setting them off but this could easily be shattered by the explosion and pepper them with the fragments."

Tips from the fire service include leaving an adult to light the fireworks, not drinking any alcohol while handling fireworks, standing well back once one is lit and never returning to them once ignited.

West Yorkshire assistant chief fire officer David Monks said: "We want everyone to enjoy bonfire celebrations without injury.

"Fireworks must be handled properly and instructions followed carefully, please be sensible and have a safe, enjoyable night."

A spokesman for Bradford Police said: "Everyone needs to use fireworks sensibly.

"They can cause great distress if they are misused in ways such as throwing them in the street, which is illegal."