Eastleigh MP David Chidgey says it is time for the government to introduce tougher, compulsory controls over the sale and use of fireworks.

His November 5 plea comes as the Daily Echo revealed that Eastleigh police patrols are being stepped up to stop teenage tearaways from terrorising the town on Guy Fawkes night.

This follows the mayhem which broke out on Hallowe'en when yobs playing with fireworks in the borough's streets launched rockets at houses.

The Eastleigh MP has revealed that nearly 1,400 people were injured by fireworks in the United Kingdom in the four weeks around Bonfire Night last year.

Mr Chidgey said this was an increase of more than 40 per cent on 2000, despite the closeness of the Millennium celebrations.

Many more will have been frightened or kept awake and many thousands of pets terrified by indiscriminate and inconsiderate use of fireworks.

The Eastleigh MP said: "The spiralling increase in firework injuries is shocking. It points to a total breakdown in the current voluntary controls over the supply and use of fireworks.

"It is time for the government to introduce tougher, compulsory controls over the sale and use of fireworks.

"The government can do and must do much more to protect the community from dangerous and excessively noisy fireworks."

Mr Chidgey has supported calls in a debate in Parliament for the government to bring forward its proposed legislative ban on air bombs in order to support the British Fireworks Association voluntary code.

He is also backing the move to ensure environmental health officers have the necessary powers, funding and guidance to take timely action against antisocial, noisy and disturbing displays.