More than 400 firework stalls have been closed across the city and firework-free areas have expanded downtown in an effort to curb air pollution during the Spring Festival, officials said yesterday.

All legal firework selling points at residential communities have been removed to ensure safety while many other stalls have been closed, said Liu Wei, a Shanghai Fire Control Bureau official.

The city has more than 1,000 authorized firework selling points, mainly at grocery stores and supermarkets. They can only sell fireworks under license.

Areas near old residential communities, construction sites, schools, hospitals, protected buildings and crowded commercial areas will be added to the list of areas where fireworks are banned this year.

Previously, fireworks were forbidden at major downtown areas within the Inner Ring Road.

Though seen as an integral part of the Spring Festival, fireworks create smog and release harmful substances.