City of York Council Environmental Health and Trading Standards deal with a wide variety of matters, as regular readers of this column will know.

Given the intermittent good weather, readers' thoughts may be turning to their gardens, so this week we offer advice to all those who have been gardening away and are thinking of having a bonfire.

Unfortunately, smoke, smuts and smells from bonfires can ruin what might otherwise be an enjoyable day in the garden, preventing your neighbours from hanging out washing and opening their windows. Furthermore, bonfire smoke may cause breathing problems, including asthma, in susceptible people.

Fortunately, the occasional small bonfire should not cause a problem, provided the waste is dry and contains no rubber, plastic, or treated wood products.

However, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, if your bonfire causes a nuisance to your neighbours or harms their health you could face legal action. Irresponsible people, who regularly cause a nuisance, can be fined up to £5,000 in court.

City of York Council environmental health officers have the power to take the legal action.

There are environmentally friendly alternatives. Garden waste can be composted or shredded saving money on commercial fertilisers and mulches. Waste can also be taken to the local amenity site. Allotment holders will find details on their notice board of when skips will be visiting their site.

If you must have a bonfire then follow these guidelines: l Only burn dry material

Do not burn household rubbish, tyres, furniture or anything containing plastic, foam or paint

Avoid burning at weekends, bank holidays and sunny days when people want to enjoy their gardens

Avoid lighting fires on still days when smoke will hang in the air or on windy days when smoke may blow towards neighbours

Never use old engine oil, methylated spirits or petrol to start a fire or encourage it.

Never leave a fire unattended.

If you are bothered by smoke from bonfires, approach the person causing it and politely make them aware of it - in most cases they may not have realised that smoke was affecting others.

If this fails, phone the Environmental Protection Unit on York (01904) 551580. For information leaflets on bonfires, log on to www.york.gov.uk or phone for a copy.

Updated: 09:13 Thursday, April 21, 2005