Christmas firework rule is crackers, PM agrees

David Cameron today vowed to scrap "absurd" health and safety laws that classify Christmas crackers as fireworks.

Under European Union rules rubber-stamped in the summer, they count as "category one" fireworks.

It means under-16s are banned from buying them, with checkout staff facing six-month prison terms and fines up to £5,000 for breaches.

During Prime Minister's Questions, Tory MP Michael Ellis described the rules as "absurd" and urged: "Will you put a firework under health and safety legislation?"

Mr Cameron replied: "It would give me enormous pleasure."

Retailers called for trading standards officers to be called off from enforcing the rules in the run-up to Christmas.