Sainsbury’s has become the first major UK supermarket to ban the sale of fireworks ahead of Bonfire Night next month.

The move comes as a pet charity warned over the dangers of fireworks for pets.

Sainsbury’s issue statement over the sale of fireworks

Sainsbury’s first stopped selling fireworks in 2019 in a move which affected all 2,300 UK Stores and the retailer has confirmed this will once again be the case in 2021.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: "We regularly review the products available in our stores and we are no longer selling fireworks based on a range of factors.

"Customers can continue to choose from a range of seasonal products, such as glow sticks and light-up spinning wands."

Dogs Trust congratulate Sainsbury’s for fireworks ban

The fireworks ban from Sainsbury’s has prompted praise from Dogs Trust, a charity focusing on the welfare of dogs.

The charity has urged other big retailers to do the same warning “dog owners are on tenderhooks”.

A spokesperson from the trust said: "Although they can look beautiful, fireworks can be very distressing for dogs when let off unexpectedly, and because they are so easily accessible all year-round, dog owners are on tenterhooks as to when their beloved pooch will next be frightened."

Aldi, Asda, Tesco and Co-Op issue update on sale of fireworks

A number of other major UK supermarkets have issued an update to customers concerning the sale of fireworks ahead of November.

Aldi said it understands the importance of animal welfare but will continue to sell fireworks in store.

A spokesperson said Aldi "understands the importance of animal welfare when celebrating [with fireworks] which is why our sales materials include reminders that pets should be kept safe indoors along with advice on how to make them feel secure".

An Asda spokesperson added: "We know that many of our customers love fireworks, but we also know that some customers and their pets don’t like the noise, which is why this year we have launched a collection of low noise fireworks so that everyone can still enjoy the show."

Tesco also confirmed it will continue to sell fireworks while Co-Op said it has not sold firework products for the past five year and has no plans to bring them back.