WEST Mercia police have failed to issue a single on-the-spot fine to yobs who misuse fireworks, the Government has admitted.

Police have been given the power to impose fixed penalty notices for throwing fireworks and breaching firework curfews as part of the Government's war on anti-social behaviour.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett trumpeted the £80 fines as the solution to the misery inflicted on householders in the periods around Bonfire Night, Christmas and New Year's Eve.

But a Parliamentary written answer has revealed that no troublemakers were hit with the fines in Worcestershire in the first year after they were introduced - in October 2003.

Worcester MP Michael Foster admitted there was no shortage of offenders that needed to be targeted, but said the powers might need "bedding in".

He said: "I have heard no end of fireworks go off outside the prescribed times. The problem police have is catching the people concerned and it might take time for people to get used to reporting it.

"As a tool it might take a bit of bedding in but I do hope West Mercia use it to stop the abuse of fireworks in our local communities."

West Mercia was one of 22 of England and Wales' 43 police forces that failed to hand out a single notice.

Of the forces that did use the new powers in the 13 months up to October 31 last year, only 314 penalties were handed out.

If it had not been for Thames Valley police, the total would have been dramatically lower. That force issued 235 - 75 per cent of all penalty notices.

Police officers have warned the fines would be difficult to enforce, saying that by the time police respond to calls that fireworks are being let off in the street, offenders may have fled.

Opposition MPs claimed police officers were too tied up in red tape to enforce the legislation.