ONCE again a small minority of idiots used Hallowe’en and the run-up to bonfire night as an excuse to cause mayhem.

In different pockets across Newport, youths set bins on fire, threw fireworks around and in Bettws set a police car on fire.

This was nothing more than mindless vandalism and thankfully nobody was hurt.

But it is indicative of a strain of behaviour which we see at this time of year, every year.

As soon as darkness falls there are fireworks being let off here, there and everywhere. And it is nothing short of a nuisance.

Nobody wants to be a killjoy, and we are not calling for an end to the traditional linking of November 5 with bonfires and fireworks.

But there must be some greater control over their sale.

All too often what starts off as a prank can end up as a serious incident.

We pity the police and fire service who must dread this time of year.

Gwent Police are trying, through the likes of Operation BANG, to take a different approach and that is to be commended but we can’t help feeling that the ones who cause the trouble will plough on regardless.