Copyright dailyrecord
While many people are looking forward to Halloween celebrations this weekend, others will be counting down the days until Bonfire Night for their favourite firework display. Inspired by a historic event that took place over 400 years ago, many people travel to organised events across the country to see the sky exploding in bright colours and mesmerising patterns on November 5 . However, while most towns and cities will be holding their own controlled displays, many households will also be trying their hand at creating their own shows at home in the lead up to Guy Fawkes Night . While these can be a fun idea to bring friends and family together, Scots need to be aware that there are laws in place that they need to follow before using their own fireworks. These rules are there to protect people from harm, as well as to help avoid disruption and distress. On top of this, there are specific rules for important days in the calendar that also need to be abided by, reports the Liverpool Echo. The law states that you must not set off or throw fireworks between the hours of 11pm and 7am - this also includes use of sparklers. However, the rules slightly shift for events such as Bonfire Night, where fireworks are allowed to be set off between 7am and 12am (midnight). Additionally, major occasions such as New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year have an extended cut off time of 1am. Scots also need to be aware of the laws surrounding purchasing of fireworks. The Scottish Government website states that those purchasing fireworks for private use can only buy them on the following dates: Additionally, registered sellers can only sell fireworks on the above dates to shoppers between 7am and 6pm, with no more than 5KG of fireworks being sold to a member of the public at one time. If you are found to be selling or using fireworks illegally, you can be fined an unlimited amount depending on your local council and imprisoned for up to six months. It is important to also check with your local council if there any local rules for setting off fireworks. For example, the Glasgow City Council's website states: "Firework control zones have been confirmed for three communities in Glasgow - Pollokshields, Govanhill and Broomhouse. "The introduction of the zones means it will be a criminal offence for a member of the public to set-off a firework anywhere within the zone from 1 November to 10 November 2025. This includes both public and private spaces, such as back gardens, although sparklers are exempted." For those found breaching these firework control zones, you could face six months in prison and a fine of up to £5000. Injury figures have supported advice that going to a large public display is the safest way to enjoy fireworks. This is because far less people are injured at these events than at smaller private gatherings.
