>Can kids in UK buy and use fireworks?

No, it is illegal to sell them to children.

Most fireworks are bought by parents for small displays at home, by groups of families (such as at the event we went to last night), medium sized neighbourhood displays or large public displays.

My personal experience is that fireworks have always been treated with great respect. When I was a child we were allowed to light the fireworks ourselves but these days it always seems to be a responsible adult at a great distance.

Here's a website with information and accident statistics, sorry about the noise (Cap K will recognise it!)

http://www.fire.org.uk/firework/home.htm

Edinburgh has major firework displays three times a year, once during the festival (with the Castle as a wonderful backdrop)http://www.btinternet.com/~murray.groat/MurraysPants/pages/PGed2000fireworks.htm, once for bonfire night and again for Hogmanay (the ones for the milennium were amazing).