Two men have been arrested in Smethwick after fireworks were allegedly sold to children from the back of a van.

Police were called on Saturday afternoon following reports that fireworks were being sold from the vehicle. Officers arrested two men, aged 24 and 39, on suspicion of threatening to cause a public nuisance, and recovered a van which was found to be full of fireworks.

It is illegal to sell fireworks and sparklers to anyone under the age of 18, and it is also unlawful to sell fireworks without a specialised licence. A police spokesperson said: "It is illegal to sell fireworks and sparklers to anyone under the age of 18. It is also unlawful to sell fireworks without a specialised licence."

The arrests come as police continue to target firework-related disorder in Birmingham and across the wider West Midlands. Section 60 powers were also in place yesterday in response to firework-related disorder in the area.

Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 gives police the temporary power to stop and search people without needing the usual requirement of reasonable grounds for suspicion. The powers are used in a defined area for a limited time when officers anticipate serious violence or disorder.

Fireworks can only be sold to adults, and sellers must hold the appropriate licence. Shops and other sellers also face restrictions on when fireworks can be sold, with sales generally limited to the period around Bonfire Night and other traditional celebration dates unless the seller holds a year-round licence.

Police have reminded the public of the rules as the Bonfire Night period brings a rise in firework-related incidents. Officers across the West Midlands have been carrying out targeted action against the illegal sale of fireworks and against disorder involving fireworks being set off in public places.

The two men arrested in Smethwick have been arrested on suspicion of an offence. An arrest is not a charge, and no charge has been announced. The investigation continues, and police have asked anyone with information about the illegal sale of fireworks to contact them.

Anyone who is offered fireworks for sale from an unlicensed seller, or who sees fireworks being sold to children, can report it to police on 101, or anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Trading standards officers also have a role in enforcing firework sales law, and retailers who break the rules can face prosecution. Fireworks sold without a licence, or sold to under-18s, can be seized, and sellers can face fines. Police have urged parents to talk to children about the dangers of fireworks, and to report anyone selling them illegally rather than buying from unlicensed sellers, where the fireworks may be unsafe or stored dangerously.