MORE supermarkets should follow Sainsbury’s example and stop the sale of fireworks in their stores, a city councillor has said.

Paul Carey is reiterating calls he made last year when he urged supermarket giants to stop offering the pyrotechnics to the public.

He claims the number of incidents of misuse of fireworks is on the rise, putting lives at risk.

“I honestly believe it is only a matter of time before someone loses their life as a result of this anti-social behaviour,” the Drumchapel/Anniesland representative said.

“I wrote to the Scottish Government calling for a ban on the sale of fireworks and only to have them at official public events.

“Once again, I am calling on all supermarkets to ban the sale of all fireworks – and for the council not to issue temporary licences to these pop-up shops.”

He also wants the government to consider tougher sentences for those involved in firework related crime.

Sainsbury’s recently announced its decision to stop selling fireworks after a yearly review, becoming the first major supermarket in the UK to make the move.

Last year, a petition to ban the public sale of fireworks to protect animals, children and people with a phobia gained more than 300,000 signatures.

It was debated by the UK Government, which said it takes the matter “very seriously” but had no plans to change the legislation.

Last week, city cops promised a fireworks crackdown in Pollokshields, where community fears have risen after a night in 2018 when around 40 adults and young men in balaclavas set off industrial fireworks in the streets – even aiming them at police.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who attended a meeting with the police and residents, also called for a total ban on industrial fireworks being sold to the public. She said she and Alison Thewliss MP, who was also at the meeting, have a “job of work” to do in pushing Westminster to legislate for a ban.

A recent survey, commissioned by the Scottish Government, revealed 71 per cent of adults support tighter controls on the sale of fireworks to the public, with over half backing a ban.

And a government consultation found the majority, of 16,000 participants, were in favour of tougher laws. This included 93 per cent supporting stronger regulations to ensure animals are not caused unnecessary suffering as a result of fireworks misuse.