Councillors and the police have issued their advice for a safe Halloween and then Bonfire Night in Cumbria.
The county's constabulary says it'll have extra patrols out in Barrow, Ulverston and the South Lakes to discourage anti-social behaviour by trick-or-treaters on Saturday night.
Superintendent for South Cumbria Rob O’Connor said: “We work closely with partners to prevent anti-social activity at this time of year. The majority of people enjoy Halloween activities and fireworks/bonfires safely, however there can be a small number of people who do not think about how their actions can affect others.
“Please be aware when ‘trick or treating’ that some people may not want to be disturbed, particularly those who are elderly or vulnerable. I also urge people to attend organised fireworks shows, or if you do let off fireworks at home please do so safely and at considerate times of day.
Meanwhile, officers are urging people to buy their fireworks from a reputable retailer so they don't end up with illegal or counterfeit products ahead of the 5th of November.
Councillor John McCreesh, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Trading Standards, said: “I would urge anybody buying fireworks to only purchase them from a reputable retailer to avoid being sold illegal or counterfeit products which do not meet safety standards and could cause serious injury. Retailers also need to be aware that they have a responsibility to ensure the fireworks they sell meet the required safety standards and that they are not sold to under-18s."
Elsewhere, Cumbria County Council's issued a list of "do's and don't's" ahead of Guy Fawkes Night:
- Keep fireworks in a closed metal box and take them out one at a time.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on each firework. Read them by torchlight - never by naked flame.
- Light fireworks at arm's length using a safety firework lighter or fuse wick.
- Stand well back after lighting.
- Never go back to a firework once lit - it may go off in your face.
- Used fireworks should be collected after the display with care. Douse with water, bury or place in a metal container.
- Supervise children and keep your pets indoors.
- For an emergency keep buckets of water, the garden hose or a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Site bonfires well away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees and shrubs and always away from fireworks.
- Before lighting the fire, check that no pets or wildlife are hiding inside it.
- Build the stack so that it is stable and will not collapse outwards or to one side.
- Never use flammable liquids, paraffin or petrol, to light the fire.
- Keep everyone away from the fire - especially children, who must be supervised at all times.
Councillor Barry Doughty, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for the fire service, said: “If you’re hosting your own event for friends or family, we would ask that you take some basic, common-sense precautions to help keep everyone safe. People are not only helping themselves by staying safe – they are assisting us too. This is the busiest time of year for fire and rescue services so reducing the number of calls we have to attend eases the pressure on our resources.”