A Thatcham store has been ordered to pay fines and costs in the region of £30,000 for dangerous storage of fireworks.

Manmohan Nagpal, and his company JMG Stores Ltd had entered guilty pleas to four Health and Safety offences. 

During the fireworks season in 2022, trading standards officers visited the convenience store Today’s Local, in Crown Mead, Thatcham to carry out a routine check of the storage of fireworks. 

The officers found that fireworks were being stored dangerously with live electricity and flammable items. 

They also found rockets and other explosive fireworks which were not allowed to be stored at the premises, and the explosive content was more than double that which was allowed under the licence.

The court heard that trading standards officers had provided advice on prior occasions which had not been acted on by the owner.

The business owner and his company were sentenced to pay total fines and costs amounting to £29,313. 

Executive Member  for Public Safety at West Berkshire Council Councillor Lee Dillon commented: “This case demonstrates the valuable work trading standards undertake behind the scenes to protect residents and should act as a warning to other businesses to follow advice from trading standards and to comply with the conditions of their licence.”