Anti-terror police join Mersey hunt for fireworks with power of 3lbs of Semtex.

A HUGE police effort to combat gangs importing deadly fireworks was revealed yesterday amid warnings that rockets with the same explosive power as 3lbs of Semtex are heading to Merseyside.

Undercover officers and anti-terror experts from Scotland Yard are being stationed at sea ports to make an immediate impact on the people behind the fireworks trade which is being used to create car bombs.

Police fear somebody could be killed if the bombings continue.

With bonfire night only two months away, the Firework Incident Research Safety Team (First) will secretly track industrial fireworks from ports across Britain to Merseyside and seize them when they are being sold illegally.

They will investigate who is behind the importation of the Chinese-made rockets and identify where they are being stored.

The team will also target areas in Merseyside where teenagers are bringing misery to people's lives by targeting houses, phone kiosks and post boxes.

The series of car bombs which have been used in a tit-for-tat Liverpool gang war and attacks on Merseyside police stations, were created by strapping together industrial fireworks.

This year, a new and more explosive type of category-three firework is heading to Merseyside.

Each contains 70g of flash powder which police say has the explosive power of 3lbs of Semtex.

Merseyside Police Chief Supt Paul Forrester said: ``We are determined to stop all improper use of fireworks -- with the car bombs obviously being a priority. We will use anti-terrorism units at Scotland Yard and take on board what they have to offer. ''

The cost of running First is more than pounds 200, 000 per year and is headed by PC Diane Rourke and fire service Assistant Divisional Officer Chris Case.

Council chiefs, meanwhile, have vowed to use anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) to clamp down on yobs bringing firework misery to their communities.