Trading standards officers have already confiscated 3.5 tons of fireworks - including a 2.5 ton haul from a single house in Daventry.

The county's trading standards spokesman Brian Lewin said a fireworks black-market has developed in the area and his department was determined to stamp it out.

"If there had been an accident at the place where there were 2.5 tons it could have been terrible," he said.

Firefighters' safety concerns

"And if there are accidents it's the police and firefighters who are have to put their lives at risk."

Deputy chief fire officer for Northamptonshire David Ellis added: "We've got huge numbers of fireworks which are being stored in premises which are simply not suitable.

"If there are enough of them they could cause devastating explosions and I am greatly concerned about the health and safety of our firefighters."