A HIT squad has been launched as part of the crackdown on the misuse of fireworks. From today a safety patrol will be on the streets of Oldham seeking those who cause Bonfire misery to thousands of families.

Made up of town hall officials and police officers, the squad will patrol each evening from 5pm to midnight until November 9.

Mark Alcock, from Oldham council, thinks it will be a powerful weapon in the war on firework misuse.

He said: "The menace caused goes right across the board. It's not just old people, there's those with heart problems, those with pets and those who just don't like it.

"In an ideal world, fireworks would only be on sale in the week leading up to November 5. It's a cultural problem - some people think it's great to set fireworks off everywhere. I think they don't realise the damage they cause.

"The council is committed to working with our partners to stamp out this nuisance and we will use this patrol to seek out troublemakers."

Under current guidelines, under-18s are banned from buying fireworks and the M.E.N. has fought a long-running campaign for a ban on over-the-counter firework sales.

The patrol, seasonably codenamed Operation Treacle, will use a rapid response vehicle.

Officers can issue fines, confiscate fireworks, issue Asbos and seek prosecutions.

The squad will also gather intelligence on illegal sales and the misuse of fireworks.

Supt Stewart Goodwin said: "Our aim is to provide a high visibility presence - particularly in hot- spot areas for fireworks disorder.

"It is now an offence for anyone under 18 to possess fireworks in a public place and for anybody to possess the bigger `professional use only' fireworks. We will be using these patrols to enforce these new measures."

The public can report incidents to the council on 0161 770 3000 or the police on 0161 872 5050.