Dutch and German police have seized a record haul of over 120 tonnes of illegal fireworks in the border area with Germany, which, they say, were probably heading for the Netherlands.

The fireworks, which equal the total weight of fireworks confiscated last year, were found in a bunker in Rheine just over the Dutch border near Enschedé.

The bunkers in the area, formerly used by Nato to store ammunition, are legitimate storage units for fireworks but are often sublet to unscrupulous dealers.

Sellers and punters meet on social media to arrange the transport from the bunkers, which, police warned, can be extremely dangerous.

Heavy fireworks is also increasingly being used to blow up cash point machines and at demonstrations and this, police said, makes dealing in the explosives interesting for criminal gangs.

No one has yet been arrested in connection with the find in Rheine.

Every year, police confiscate tens of tonnes of illegal fireworks in the run up to the New Year festivities. Two weeks ago police intercepted 750 kilos of fireworks being smuggled into the Netherlands from Germany. Four people were arrested as part of a crackdown in the east and north of the country.

Earlier in October police seized 3.7 tonnes from a storage container in Tilburg and arrested two men.