June 27 2003, This is Kent, QUIETEST OF FIREWORKS
May I inform readers, especially those in the vicinity of Tonbridge School, of the way in which the school, staff and pupils, will be celebrating the 450th anniversary of the foundation of the school on Wednesday, July 2? We will start with a sponsored walk of 16 miles along the Medway Valley Way from Maidstone to Tonbridge, in aid of Hope and Homes for Children: our hope is to raise £25,000 for the building and founding of a home for 12 orphans in Ukraine.
In the evening there will be a barbecue for all boys and staff, followed by a 15-minute firework display. Mindful of the understandable vexation caused to residents by the loud late-night fireworks on May 9, we shall hold this display much earlier (about 9.45pm), and we have specified the quietest fireworks available - the spectacle will be more light than sound.
We are writing to our neighbours, and we hope that residents will not be unduly disturbed by this final celebration of our 450 years.
Martin Hammond, Headmaster, Tonbridge School

June 26 2003, Scottish Executive, Support for UK Fireworks Bill
"The Executive is committed to stamping out the injuries and upset which can be caused to family and pets by the irresponsible use of fireworks," Finance and Public Services Minister Andy Kerr said today.
He was commenting on The Fireworks Bill, a Private Members Bill introduced at Westminster by Bill Tynan, the MP for Hamilton, which will introduce comprehensive powers covering the sale and use of fireworks across the UK.
Mr Kerr said the Executive had met earlier this year with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) which has set up a working group on fireworks and meetings with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) to discuss the wide-ranging report of the CoSLA Fireworks Task Group.
The Minister also outlined the Executive's commitment to working closely with the UK Government on the Bill and that he has already had discussions with both Bill Tynan and Melanie Johnson, until recently Consumer Minister at the Department of Trade and Industry.
Mr Kerr said:
"There is no doubt that the inappropriate and irresponsible use of fireworks can seriously affect the quality of people's lives and instead of bringing excitement they can often bring about fear and apprehension in the community.
"In a modern Scotland, it is completely unacceptable that a small minority can cause distress to people and animals. This is blighting our communities and can have harmful long-term consequences for victims. That is why the executive has been working hard to stamp out this irresponsible behaviour.
"In March I wrote to local authorities, drawing their attention to the report and outlining the good practice identified in it. I know that many local authorities are actively taking initiatives in this area.
"We have also held a number of debates on fireworks, most recently on 14 November last year, where the concerns of constituents were highlighted and a variety of opinions were expressed on what requires to be done. Many Members have been involved in local campaigns on the issue.
"The Bill has been strongly welcomed by the Executive and has also received widespread support from interested organisations such as Guide Dogs for the Blind and CoSLA. Indeed, the Fireworks Bill corresponds with the wide-ranging report of the CoSLA Fireworks Task Group and CoSLA continues to work closely with Bill Tynan in his efforts to steer the Bill through Westminster.
"I believe comprehensive regulations across the UK on the sale and use of fireworks will make a real difference in our communities. It will ensure fireworks can be enjoyed without causing fear."
The Fireworks Bill completed its passage in the House of Commons on June 13. It has the support of the UK Government and will enable regulations to be made in the following areas:
prohibition of supply to or possession by young people
prohibition of supply, possession or use during certain hours, in certain places or in certain circumstances
prohibition of supply of certain fireworks
public fireworks displays
licensing of suppliers
information about fireworks
prohibition of importation etc of fireworks
training courses

June 26 2003, This is The Lake District, Firework Campaigners To Give Advice
CAMPAIGNERS who are fighting to snuff out noisy fireworks have been asked for their advice by an MP pushing a bill through parliament to restrict pyrotechnic displays.
As the Fireworks Bill went through its third reading, the chairman of the Windermere Campaign for Firework Controls, Trevor Hinxman, was approached by the Scottish MP behind the private members bill for comments.
Mr Hinxman, who fronts the group campaigning for tighter controls on the increasing number of firework displays in the Lake District National Park, said the group was "thrilled" to be consulted by MP Bill Tynan.
"We are thrilled that we have been asked to put forward ideas. By adding our comments we can ensure the Lake District - in its unique position - is not forgotten and is catered for by the bill." The bill, which would restrict the sale of fireworks to the general public to a few weeks a year and introduce controls on noise, manufacture and use, now faces its first reading in the House of Lords.
Mr Hinxman added that apart from residents tiring of rude awakenings the increasingly loud bangs were terrifying livestock and pets.
"The animals are scared to death. During lambing time some sheep even abort. We have an awful lot of hotels that put on displays for weddings in an area with a tremendous amount of farms. This is why I don't think any fireworks should be allowed in the first five-six months of the year." The group, which began its campaign last year when 80 residents sick of sleepless nights packed out the Ladyholme Centre to voice their complaints, will meet on July 3 to draw up comments.

June 25 2003, ic SurreyOnline, Tighter controls on sales of fireworks
CAMPAIGNERS were celebrating this week after winning their fight for tighter controls on the sale and use of fireworks.  MPs voted in favour of a new Fireworks Bill which will include restrictions on when fireworks can be let off, and strict licensing of vendors to stamp out selling to children.
All public displays will also have to be carried out by a licensed pyrotechnician and anyone breaking the law faces a fine and up to six months in prison.
Last year town MP Laura Moffatt collected more than 1,000 signatures backing the move, which were added to similar petitions from across the country and delivered to 10 Downing Street.
She said: "This is about balance and respect for others in the community. The new law will strike that balance, providing the police with a relevant legal framework in which to act and protecting the public both from nuisance and dangerous usage.
"The nuisance and distress caused by thoughtless use of fireworks is enormous. I get many letters about this. Children get woken up - which isn't funny at two in the morning when you've got work the next day - and animals can be very distressed."
A spokesman for town firm Fantastic Fireworks said it is still too early to say how any law would affect them.
She said: "Fireworks are fun, but clearly in the wrong hands they can be a nuisance and dangerous. As a company we always promote their safe and responsible use."

June 23 2003, ic Huddersfield, Safety drive cuts firework accidents
FIREWORK accidents were down by a quarter last year, new figures show.
Injuries to teenagers fell even further, by a third.
Eleven injuries were recorded in the area covered by Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust last November.
Nationally, a total of 1,017 people were treated in hospital casualty departments in the four-week period around Bonfire Night.
Consumer Minister Melanie Johnson, publishing new statistics for last year's bonfire night celebrations, said a hard-hitting safety campaign had helped to significantly cut accidents. The new figures show:
* Injuries in the street and public places fell by 33%;
* Injuries at family parties fell by 39%;
* Injuries at large public displays dropped by 37%.
The consumer minister said: "The fall in injuries is good news, but we cannot afford to be complacent.
"The figures still remain too high and I want to press for even greater firework safety in the future."
A backbench bid to tackle the anti-social use of fireworks through tighter regulation and stricter sale controls has cleared the Commons.
The Fireworks Bill also proposes imposing a year-round curfew of 11pm on their use.

June 20 2003, This is Herefordshire, Lucky to escape major fire
TWO incidents involving fireworks could have led to major fires.
A firework was pushed through the sunroof of a car parked in St Katherine's car park on Tuesday, causing a lot of smoke but fortunately not setting the interior alight.
Ledbury firefighters were called out at 3.35pm and later, just after 5pm, attended a second incident at the medieval Master's House when staff at the Hereford-shire Council office smelt smoke.
Firefighters discovered that a firework, possibly a banger, had been shoved into an air vent on the side of the building.
Sub-Officer Terry Phillips said: "Luckily enough, on these two occasions, no damage was done. But both incidents could have led to a major fire."
Police are investigating.

June 19 2003, Watford Observer, Firework Injuries Fall
FIREWORK injuries for last year have dropped in numbers according to consumer minister Melanie Johnson. Overall reported firework accidents last year are down by a quarter when compared to the previous year. She said: "The high profile £500,000 safety campaign run by the DTI has helped to significantly reduce the number of accidents and injuries." West Hertfordshire NHS Trust reported 13 firework injuries for 2002.

June 17 2003, ic Berkshire, Shops' fireworks were a 'danger' to neighbours
A SHOP-OWNER has been fined for failing to keep fireworks locked away safely.
Jaswinder Singh Brar, who runs Red Oak Stores, Finchampstead Road, Wokingham, was warned by trading standards officers who visited his shop that the way he stored the fireworks was a danger to the shops and neighbours.  But when they returned the next day, after a complaint from the public, they found the explosives still stored in the same way.
Mr Brar admitted the offence at Reading Magistrates Court on June 5 and said in mitigation that suitable cabinets for storing them had arrived shortly afterwards.  He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £300 costs.
Wokingham District Council's acting head of public protection Charles Bradfield said "Often people forget that fireworks are dangerous explosives and must be treated with care and stored appropriately, otherwise the consequences can be terrible."
Fireworks should be stored in a locked container and a fire extinguisher should be available nearby. For further information call trading standards officers on 018 9746400.

June 17 2003, ic Liverpool - Dramatic fall in firework injuries
FIREWORK injuries were down by a quarter last year, with injuries to teenagers falling by a third. Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust reported 10 injuries from fireworks, including two caused by air bombs or roman candles and one by a sparkler.
Four people were also treated in casualty for firework related injuries where the cause was unknown.
Nationally, injuries in the street and public places fell by 33 per cent, from 1,362 in 2001 to 1,017.
Injuries at public parties dropped by 39 per cent while those at public displays fell by 37 per cent.
The Department of Trade and Industry described the figures as the largest fall in five years and put the success down to its £500,000 campaign and the work of local authorities, schools and the fire brigade.
Consumer Minister Melanie Johnson said: "Our hard hitting campaign focused on injuries to teenagers and I am particularly pleased that these messages have been heeded.
"The fall in injuries is good news, but we cannot afford to be complacent. The figures still remain too high and I want to press for even greater firework safety in the future."
The Private Members Bill currently going through Parliament will provide new powers to crack down on the menace of fireworks misuse.
Other measures to cut the number of firework injuries include a ban on air bombs, which came into force at the beginning of the year, and a new drive to encourage local councils to use their powers to curb the problem of noise and nuisance caused by fireworks.

June 16 2003, This is Bristol, FIREWORKS FACE NEW CONTROLS
A Crackdown on the menace of fireworks has cleared another hurdle - despite warnings that it could lead to a total ban. MPs have given a smooth passage to the Fireworks Bill, which seeks to control the sale and use of the deadly devices.
But the vote was only won after Conservatives raised fears that the legislation paved the way for the government to outlaw fireworks altogether.
The Bill, which was sponsored by Labour backbencher Bill Tynan, proposes a year-round curfew of 11pm on the use of fireworks and a ban on their sale by irresponsible shopkeepers.
The Fireworks Bill would also:
Make the noisiest fireworks illegal or allow them to be used only in organised displays.
Impose stricter rules on the training of those who give professional displays.
Mr Tynan said: "The choice is between seeing this Bill through and bringing about a proper fireworks regime - or allowing continual misuse and abuse of fireworks." November 2001 saw a huge fireworks fight in St Paul's as children - some as young as eight - used industrial strength rockets and bangers at cars, houses and even the emergency services.
Bristol West MP Valerie Davey was among backbenchers who gave their support to the Bill after being contacted by worried constituents. She said: "Most of us enjoy a well-organised firework display.  "Unfortunately, more and more fireworks are being let off irresponsibly and at all hours.  The regulations in this Bill will mean they can be enjoyed rather than feared." The Bill would also prevent shopkeepers selling fireworks outside of the three weeks before November 5 - Bonfire Night - unless they pay for a higher licence. And that extra licence would cost them hundreds of p o u n d s.
This would allow fireworks to be sold for religious festivals such as Diwali, the Chinese New Year and weddings.  But Mr Tynan suggested councils could issue licences to customers or force them to buy boxes of fireworks costing £50.  Anyone convicted of breaking the laws would face a maximum of six months in jail and a £5,000 fine.
But, following Tory pressure, supporters of the Bill agreed that it should not apply to fireworks used in private gardens.  And the Conservatives also secured an amendment which ensured that the decibel limit on fireworks should not be below 120 decibels.  The fireworks industry was concerned that lowering the limit to 95 decibels would make it impossible to produce the kind of fireworks currently available.
The Bill now goes to the House of Lords for scrutiny, before returning to the Commons later this year.

June 15 2003, ManchesterOnline, Law may change after firework campaign
A MANCHESTER Evening News campaign to outlaw over-the-counter sales of fireworks won praise in parliament when new curbs got the green light from MPs.

Labour MPs were furious with Tories Christopher Chope and Edward Leigh for threatening to kill the Fireworks Bill, which will allow councils to impose 11pm curfews on fireworks displays and to restrict the sale of fireworks to the days around Bonfire Night.

But after concessions were offered to the Tories they gave up their opposition.

The Bill will now go through to the Lords - and could become law before the end of the year.

Keith Bradley, MP for Withington, said: "I want to congratulate the M.E.N. campaign, which I am sure was influential in ensuring government support.

"The strength of support from all political parties, helped by the M.E.N., will toughen the law and if necessary further measures can be taken."

June 14 2003, Leeds Today, Drop in number of firework accidents
FIREWORK accidents were down by a quarter last year, and injuries to teenagers fell even further - by a third - according to statistics relating to last bonfire night celebrations.
The new figures show:
Injuries in the street and public places fell by 33 per cent;
Injuries at family parties fell by 39 per cent;
Injuries at large public displays dropped by 37 per cent;
Injuries in the "hotspot" UK regions fell by 36 per cent.
Welcoming the decrease, Consumer Minister Melanie Johnson said: "The high profile £500,000 safety campaign run by the DTI has helped to significantly reduce the number of accident and injuries.
"Our hard hitting campaign focused on injuries to teenagers.
"We cannot afford to be complacent. The figures still remain too high and I want to press for even greater firework safety in the future.
"In addition to the ban on air bombs and other measures I announced last year to increase safety and reduce noise nuisance, the Private Member's Bill currently going through Parliament will provide new powers to crack down on the menace of fireworks misuse."

June 13 2003, This is Kent, NO NOISE PLEASE - WE'RE SLEEPING
Now the summer months are upon us, we are already encountering the complete disregard residents have for their neighbours. In Edenbridge recently we had a firework display after 10.30pm (the second in a month) and a neighbour had two high-powered trimmers working on his hedges before 9am on a Sunday.
So much for a good night's sleep.
It is time the authorities brought in regulation to control this sort of thing and/or enforced the existing noise pollution laws.
J B T, Edenbridge

June 13 2003, Government Release, Big fall in firework injuries
Firework accidents were down by a quarter last year, while injuries to teenagers fell by 33 per cent. The figures represent the biggest fall in bonfire night accidents for 5 years.
The injury statistics are collected from all hospitals in England, Wales and Scotland over a four-week period around 5 November. The most recent figures show:
injuries in the street and public places fell by 33 per cent
injuries at family parties fell by 39 per cent
injuries at large public displays dropped by 37 per cent
injuries in the "hotspot" regions - where the problem of firework misuse and injury was most acute in 2001 - fell by 36 per cent
Consumer Minister Melanie Johnson said the high profile safety campaign had helped to significantly reduce the number of accident and injuries. "Our hard hitting campaign focussed on injuries to teenagers and I am particularly pleased that these messages have been heeded," she said.
"The fall in injuries is good news, but we cannot afford to be complacent. The figures still remain too high and I want to press for even greater firework safety in the future."
The total number of people treated as hospital casualty departments in the UK in 2002 was 1017, compared to 1362 in 2001.

June 11 2003, This is The West Country, Firework sellers to comply with storage laws
FIREWORK sellers in Somerset have been warned they face prosecution if they fail to comply with storage laws.
The warning follows a successful prosecution by Somerset County Council's community protection department.
Anthony Forster, 47, of Fosters Newsagents in Langport, pleaded guilty at Yeovil Magistrates' Court last week to two charges of failing to store fireworks in suitable containers.
The case was brought under the Explosives Act 1875 and prosecuting was assistant community protection officer Stuart Musgrove. He told magistrates that on October 29 last year one of his officers told Mr Forster to put fireworks in a suitable container after finding some incorrectly stored.
When the officer returned on November 5 she found an open box containing a number of rockets and duly confiscated them.

June 11 2003, Yorkshire Evening Post, Tragic death of fireworks crusader, 63
A housewife who launched a crusade to clamp down on the misuse of fireworks, died just as her goal was in sight.  Marjorie Johnson, of Harrogate, won national recognition for her campaign, which started with a petition to her local authority. Her tenacity attracted widespread media coverage.
Mrs Johnson, who was 63, was also a major supporter of the Yorkshire Evening Post's campaign Save The Fireworks For Bonfire Night.
She was eagerly awaiting the outcome of a new Fireworks Bill being considered by Parliament.
It promised many of the restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks for which she had been campaigning.
Mrs Johnson died during a triple heart bypass operation at Leeds General Infirmary.
Her husband, Maurice, said: "Marjorie was involved in so many things and was always 100 per cent involved in everything she did."
Her firework campaign began several years ago when she collected 5,000 signatures on a petition which was sent to Harrogate Borough Council.
Protection
Her call for tougher laws on fireworks won support from councillors and was taken up at Parliamentary level.
She later joined a national lobby group on the issue, which handed a 145,000-signature petition to MPs at Westminster.
As a noted community champion, her love for the environment also drew her to support the Hookstone and Crimple Wood Preservation Group near her home.
It was set up to protect the area from unwanted development and included an idea to run buses through the woodland as part of a park-and-ride scheme.
With her husband, she toured galas and fetes with a hoopla stall raising thousands of pounds for the flourishing environmental group.
Her community work also included service as a North Yorkshire police "special" in Harrogate from 1989 until 1996.
During that time, she was presented with an award for being the best "special" in the county.
Mrs Johnson's funeral service will be held at Harrogate's Evangelical Free Church, Strawberry Dale, at 2pm tomorrow.
The service will be conducted by her next-door neighbour, Pastor Brian Cooke.

June 9 2003, Manchester Evening News, MPs' threat to scupper fireworks law
"ROGUE elements" in Parliament are trying to kill off a Bill that would end the firework louts' reign of terror.
A proposed law that would tighten the rules on using and selling fireworks is set for final approval on Friday.
But the man behind the Fireworks Bill - Scottish MP Bill Tynan - says a group of Tory MPs are gathering to torpedo his efforts.
Defeat in the Commons this week would be a massive blow to the campaign in which the Manchester Evening News has urged the banning of all over-the-counter sales of fireworks.

Intelligence
Mr Tynan said: "There is a some intelligence that one or two MPs are trying to get a group together to prevent this happening.
"I know of no other reason than their own glorification.
"We have worked to have all-party consensus and no one has told me they don't like the Bill.
"The danger is if people believe this has the support of the government then MPs will not turn up to vote. We are trying very hard to make sure we have at least 100 people in the chamber."
The Fireworks Bill would impose an 11pm curfew throughout the year on the use of fireworks, and would tighten the rules on shops which sell fireworks.
The general sale of fireworks would be limited to a three-week period around November 5.
The curfew would not apply on certain days including Bonfire Night and New Year's Eve. Offenders could face a £5,000 fine for serious cases of abuse and up to six months in jail.
The Bill will go to its third and final reading on Friday. But even if it passes, the time scale is very tight. The Bill must go through three more readings in the House of Lords by the end of the parliamentary year in November if it is to become law.

Changes
Mr Tynan said the Bill would be lost if the Lords demanded major changes.
But he added: "I hope they have done their homework and that will not happen."
If the Bill survives the Commons this week it is likely to have its first and second readings in the Lords later this month. The final reading is planned for September.
Whatever happens a standard three-month delay after that means the Bill will not be law in time for Bonfire Night this year, though temporary legislation could be brought in by then.
Manchester city council has pledged to try to bring in its own by-law if the bill fails.
The M.E.N. backs Mr Tynan but believes only licensed organisers of proper displays should be allowed to buy fireworks.
MPs Keith Bradley (Withington) and Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton) handed a 60,000-strong petition backing our campaign to the government.

June 7 2003, This is Bradford and Hove, Pets' firework terror
I'm no killjoy but the other evening I was walking my dog when some noisy fireworks, let off in someone's back garden, completely terrified the poor creature.
It took some time to calm her down. Fireworks should be restricted to properly licensed and controlled displays and banned from back gardens.
Displays should only take place on November 5, and national occasions such as Royal Jubilees and weddings.
Furthermore, the explosive contents should be reduced to avoid the terrifically noisy bangs that frighten so many people.
Why should household pets and wildlife, as well as humans with sensitive nerves and hearts, be subject to the regular nuisance of thoughtless firework users?
R W, Hove

June 6 2003, This is Leicestershire, MPs LIGHT BLUE TOUCH-PAPER ON FIREWORK DEBATE
A campaign to end the misery of fireworks misuse is about to reach a crucial stage in Parliament.

The Control of Fireworks Bill is to have its third reading in the House of Commons today and stands a good chance of becoming law. The campaign - which calls for tighter controls on fireworks - has been given a massive backing here in Leicester.

Leicester City Council joined forces with the Leicester Mercury last year to launch the hard-hitting Bang! campaign to highlight the distress the misuse of fireworks causes hundreds of people in the city.

A total of 311 people complained about fireworks nuisance over two months - six times as many as the previous year.

The crackdown was backed by many Mercury readers and the RSPCA, which receives hundreds of complaints every year about fireworks frightening or injuring animals.

Campaigners said today's reading was an important step.

Councillor Carlym Sandringham, arts and leisure scrutiny spokesperson, said: "Fireworks can be fun and are an important part of some festivals.

"The campaign run last year by the council and the Leicester Mercury was successful in highlighting issues to help people use fireworks with more consideration and safety.

''The Private Members Bill reading will hopefully keep the firework issue on the national agenda."

Horace Gamble, 80, from Ratby said: "It's good news that it's got to this stage.

''I wrote a letter to the Mercury supporting the Bang! campaign.

''It used to be that you got them on November 5 and that was it. These days the bangs start weeks before. Some of them are terrifying and shake your windows."

A spokeswoman for the East Midland's RSPCA said the organisation was urging people to lobby their local MP.

She said: "Every year, the RSPCA is inundated with calls from the public whose pets have been traumatised, have run off in fear from firework noise, or have been injured.

"While we appreciate that there is a lot of enjoyment gained from displays, the distress caused to animals is simply too great to ignore."

The draft legislation, put forward by Scotland MP Bill Tynan, aims to limit the sale of fireworks and introduce an 11pm to 7am curfew on use.

Shops can apply for a general licence to sell fireworks around November 5, or apply for a £600 licence from the council to be able to sell fireworks all year. Anyone who breaks the rules could be fined up to £5,000.

June 4 2003, BBC NEWS, Customs seize illegal fireworks
A huge consignment of illegal fireworks has been seized by customs officials in Hull.
The three-and-a-half tonne haul was found inside a lorry trailer aboard a cargo ship on Wednesday.
Customs and Excise officers believe the fireworks, which are sold in parts of the Far East, were destined for the black market.
Spokesman Mike Connolly told BBC Look North the banned products would have been "time bombs" out on the streets.
He said: "These are black market fireworks and are not legal.
"They are stronger, do not have a licence and have no health warnings - they are absolute time bombs."
Customs challenge
All four types of the fireworks found are banned in this country because of their unstable nature.
But Mr Connolly admitted they were unlikely to find the culprits.
"These people are organised in what they are doing," he added.
"They are falsifying paper work and it's a very difficult job for us - but at least we've stopped these getting on to the streets."
The fireworks will be catalogued and sent for destruction while the customs investigation continues.

June 4 2003, This is Brighton and Hove, Noise torture
Last Saturday, there was a firework display in Buckingham Park and, once again, my animals suffered - and I expect other animals did too.
Why is it the organisers of these events have to use so many extremely loud, exploding fireworks?
Why can't they be satisfied with watching those which do not cause so much distress?
Normally, one would expect to hear a few of these wretched things but on Saturday, it was like a barrage - it sounded as if World War Three had broken out.
Surely more thought and consideration should have been given, especially as, at this time of year, there are so many young nestlings in the park and surrounding areas?
R E, Shoreham-by-Sea

June 4 2003, This is Worcestershire, Firework show was bang out of order
A CITY councillor has condemned the firework finale of Worcester's answer to a night at the proms - despite a resounding thumbs up for the Wyvern FM music extravaganza.
Coun David Barlow said the "dreadful cacophony" between 10.30pm and 10.45pm at Worcester Cricket Ground showed a "wanton disregard" for residents in the area.
He added that students studying for exams would have been affected by the thunderous bangs, which finished off Wyvern's two-day event at the weekend.
"It rattled my window panes in Barbourne, although the display was a long way away," said Coun Barlow, who has pledged to bring up the radio station's "flagrant and noisy selfishness" with Worcester City Council.
"Goodness knows, I'm not a killjoy, as my longstanding chairing of the licensing committee attests.
"However, this wanton disregard for households with pets, older people and babies, not to mention young people with exams, is getting way beyond a joke."
The event kicked off at 4pm on Saturday with boy band Busted, followed by R&B superstars Mis'teeq, Atomic Kitten and Fame Academy's David Sneddon.
Sixties pop diva Petula Clark, accompanied by the English National Orchestra, then dazzled fans during Sunday's classical festivities, which climaxed with a late evening firework display.
Wyvern FM programme controller Simon Monk said he was stunned by Coun Barlow's response to the celebration, which saw nearly 15,000 flock through the gates of the New Road venue.
"The whole point of the festival was to bring something fantastic to this area," he said.
"The finale was very much part of the classical concert and normally, you wouldn't know when a firework display in the area was going to happen.
"But there was plenty of warning and residents in the flats near New Road were all informed.
"In fact, the environmental department received not a single complaint and we have been bombarded with texts and emails from people who absolutely loved it.
Did you think the firework display was too noisy? Or would you like to see the event take place again next year?
Let us know your views by writing to: Voice of Worcester, Evening News, Hylton Road, Worcester, WR2 5JX.
Alternatively, email: letters@thisisworcester.co.uk

May 29 2003, ic Berkshire, Festival fills families with dread
FAMILIES in Caversham are bracing themselves for a non-stop salvo of fireworks from Reading Festival revellers which they fear will ruin their August bank holiday weekend.
Last year festival organiser The Mean Fiddler banned music fans from indulging in any impromptu pyrotechnics.
And stewards confiscated any fireworks found on the site.
Fans were threatened with being thrown out if they broke the ban, and a complaints hotline was set up to try to nip noise problems in the bud.
As a result, complaints about fireworks dropped from 16 in 2001 to just one last year.
But Rosemary Bayford, secretary of Warren and District Residents' Association, said: "If complaints weren't made, it's because people have got fed up with nothing being done.
"I know they are taking steps this year to try to stop the problem.
"But it's impossible to inspect everyone's rucksack for fireworks.
"Like so many things to do with the festival, it remains to be seen how these measures will actually work."
The association wants Reading Borough Council's 24-hour complaints hotline, and its sound monitoring equipment, set up on the Wednesday before the festival, rather than the Thursday as usual.
Mrs Bayford says festival-goers have started setting up camp earlier in the last few years, and noise problems begin well before the festival officially starts on the Friday.
She said: "Last year at least 7,000 people were on the campsite on Wednesday night, and there was considerable disturbance.
"We shall be glad to have an assurance that every effort will be made to ensure there is only minimal use of the campsite on the Wednesday night this year, and that there are sufficient stewards on duty to prevent disturbance.
"Five consecutive nights of noise nuisance to local residents is too much."
The association also wants a strong police presence north of the River Thames over the festival weekend.
The council's licensing committee considers The Mean Fiddler's application for a public entertainment licence at 6pm today (Thursday) at the Civic Centre. The meeting is open to the public.

May 29 2003, ManchesterOnline - News, Crime rate falls as cops patrol schools
A POLICE scheme launched eight months ago in Greater Manchester has helped to bring down vandalism, crime and truancy, say a majority of schools involved in it.
Police stress that their role is only a part of the Safer Schools Partnership scheme and that a proper analysis is yet to be done. But they say anecdotal evidence suggests staff, students and the community feel the scheme is a success.
Only one of the 12 schools involved has decided not to continue with the scheme.
Chief Inspector Eric Fegan, the driving force behind the introduction of the school-based police officers, said: "The SSP scheme is not just about police officers in schools .There is also a behavioural support team and a programme for education outside schools. It is about partnership working.

Problems
"One school told us they had problems every year with disruption caused by fireworks being let off in school, but since we started the scheme it has not been a problem.
"Another school reported a drop in truancy rates. It is also about reducing the possibility of young people becoming victims of crime or offenders and creating an environment where they feel safe and learn, which can be difficult to quantify."
As well as working with children and staff, the police officers also liaise with local shopkeepers and residents to iron out problems in each area.
Other schools involved in the scheme are Ducie High and Cedar Mount School and Burnage High School in South Manchester; Buile Hill High School and Albion High School in Salford; Hayward Secondary and Withins Secondary Schools in Bolton; Queen Elizabeth School in Rochdale and Radcliffe High and South Chadderton High Schools in Oldham.

May 26 2003, This is York, Firework pushed through letterbox
A LIGHTED firework was pushed through the letterbox of a house in York.
The house, in Tostig Avenue, Acomb, was left with burns to a carpet after the incident between midnight and 9am this morning.
Meanwhile, a woman in St Peters Grove, Clifton, walked into her kitchen to find three men attempting to break in through a window at 7.34pm yesterday. All three walked away.
The first male is described as white, with short mousy blond hair, wearing a hooded top and black trousers with a white stripe.
The second is described as white, with dark hair, with a dark jacket and dark trousers with a yellow stripe down the side.
The third is described as having dark hair and wearing a black and beige jacket.

May 23 2003, ic Coventry,  Pillar box back in action
A postbox has been brought back into use six months after vandals put it out of action in a firework attack.
The old-style postbox, on the corner of Dane Road and Shakespeare Street, Stoke, Coventry, had remained in its damaged state since last November 5, to the annoyance and inconvenience of residents.
Now, following a number of complaints to Royal Mail, the box has been fixed and is back in working order.
Eileen Radecki 72, of Dane Road, said: "We have had to wait a very long time for this and I was worried that they might think we had got used to not having one and never replaced it.
"I got onto the phone again yesterday morning and threatened that I was going to ring the Evening Telegraph if nothing was done. A few hours later, I saw a big Royal Mail van with workmen fixing it.
"I am really pleased that Royal Mail has finally got round to doing it, but it should have been done a long time ago.
"I am sure all my neighbours will be as pleased as I am."

May 23 2003, This is Kent, INVESTIGATE USING LOW-NOISE FIREWORKS
I agree with the views expressed by Sara Starkey in last week's Courier concerning the recent fireworks display at Tonbridge School. As well as waking up residents within a large radius (we are a good distance from the school but the noise was deafening), this unnecessary display caused great distress to pets - including our cat who was terrified by the noise and bright lights.
Fireworks displays on November 5 are one thing, but this was in the middle of May.
The event was clearly staged without a thought to residents or pets and other animals - the noise was equivalent to a road drill or nightclub music thumping out - neither of which would be tolerated by many people at midnight.
Why does the school feel it needs to conclude an evening event by waking us all up at an unsociable hour with a display for a few hundred people, but which inconveniences many more residents in the town?
Could the school not at least investigate the use of the low-noise fireworks, which are being promoted by the RSPCA to minimise the stress to animals?
Hopefully the RSPCA's campaign together with the Control of Fireworks Bill which is currently going through Parliament - which aims to bring in new regulations to ensure that ample consideration is given to those living near to public displays - will put an end to this sort of display in the future.
L C, Tonbridge

May 21 2003, Leicester Mercury, 'Neighbours from hell' could face benefit cut
Eyres Monsell resident Yvonne Todd faced months of hell from a nuisance neighbour on the estate.
She was terrorised by her neighbour's children and endured 18 months of agony until they were evicted. New proposals could quickly end the misery for thousands like her, who suffer anti-social neighbours.
The Government is proposing to strip nuisance neighbours of their entitlement to housing benefit if they persistently cause trouble.
Neighbours who graffiti their environment, throw rubbish into other's gardens, threaten violence, damage cars or intimidate could all be affected by the plan.
Ms Todd, a tenant association officer on the estate, said: "A lot of people live in misery. They fear reprisals. You feel as if no one is listening."
The Department for Work and Pensions is sending a document to local authorities and housing associations to seek their views on tackling anti-social behaviour.
Work and Pensions Secretary Andrew Smith said: "The Government sympathises with those who question whether it is right for the state to support the housing cost of people whose behaviour brings misery to communities."
A record number of complaints were made against noisy neighbours in Leicestershire last year. In the city, almost 3,000 complaints were made and more than 50 sound systems were confiscated.
Earlier this month, the Mercury carried out a week-long investigation into noise pollution and the effect it is having on our lives.
More than half the complaints received by Leicester City Council's noise nuisance teams are about loud music. Other cases include shouting, fireworks, alarms, DIY and more than 500 complaints were made about dogs.
A housing spokesman for Leicester City Council said: "The Government is trying to give councils more options to deal with anti-social behaviour, but it is unlikely this is an option we would choose."
He said tenants could end up being evicted for rent arrears because their benefit had been withdrawn. The council is more in favour of other options, such as injunctions. Its noise control team can confiscate stereos and other equipment from repeat offenders, and can disable house and car burglar alarm systems. Council tenants can face being evicted for anti-social behaviour.
The Government will consult landlords as well as people with experience of noisy neighbours.
Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth said: "Cutting housing benefit could be an effective way of dealing with anti-social tenants."
The noise monitoring team is on 0116 252 6339, or e-mail environmental.helpline@leicester.gov.uk

May 20 2003, This is Local London, Firework ban gets support
PROPOSALS to bring in tighter controls on the sale and use of fireworks has won the support of Bexley councillors.
The new Fireworks Bill, which won unanimous support on its second reading in the House of Commons, will force fireworks parties to end at 11pm, ban noisy fireworks and restrict sale to three weeks before November 5.
People wanting fireworks for cultural festivities, such as New Year's Eve, Diwali or weddings, will have to go to retailers with a higher form of licence.
Councillor Sylvia Malt, who proposed Bexley Council should back the bill, said: "Fireworks should be fun but can be dangerous. They are explosives which should be used with caution."
She said there were 1,362 reported injuries from fireworks nationwide, between October and November last year, half of them to people aged under 17.
"November 5th season starts in October and lasts until the end of January and other times in between," said councillor Gareth Bacon.
Councillor Mike Slaughter said he was happy to see fireworks on Bonfire Night and at New Year. "But I object to those enormous cannons' which go on for two or three minutes."
They also objected to fireworks being set off in the early hours of the morning.
Councillors gave their unanimous support to the bill, although some were concerned the wording was not tight enough.
The bill also has the support of Old Bexley and Sidcup MP Derek Conway, former chief executive of the Cats Protection League who is concerned about the abuse of fireworks especially involving animals.
The plans will now be considered in detail by a Government committee.
l What do you think? Is Bexley Council right to support the bill? Write to Letters, News Shopper, Mega House, Crest View Drive, Petts Wood, BR5 1BT.

May 16 2003, ic CheshireOnline,  Warning as 'dangerous' fireworks are stolen
POLICE are appealing for the safe return of £700 worth of professional display fireworks which have been stolen from a village warehouse.
One hundred and eighty nine separate fireworks were stolen from an outbuilding in Guy Lane, Waverton, sometime between the end of January and May 2.
Police say the fireworks are used for public demonstrations and should not be lit if found.
Jacqui Hanson, a spokeswoman for the Cheshire Constabulary, said: 'The fireworks were stolen from an outbuilding belonging to a house in the Waverton area.
'They are powerful fireworks and can be very dangerous if ignited in an area not large enough to contain their capacity, or by someone who is not trained in using large fireworks.
'The stolen fireworks include various shells, mines, candle-type fireworks and flares.
'Particularly dangerous are all the shells and mines. If they are ignited outside the correctly sized mortar tubes which are needed for their ignition, they could prove potentially very harmful.'
She added: 'One particular firework, known as a Poisonous Spider, is a very large heavy firework which is about 90lbs in weight. It could be potentially very harmful.
'The fireworks should not be used by persons not trained or equipped to detonate them.
'If anyone finds them abandoned or knows of their whereabouts, or have been offered them in unusual circumstances, they should contact Chester police on 01244 350222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.'

May 14 2003, Express and Star, Display off with a quiet bang
A fireworks show with a difference was getting off the ground tonight with a display of low-noise fireworks designed to be more animal-friendly.
Consumer minister Melanie Johnson was expected to join other MPs and members of the public for the display at Potters Field Park in east London.
The show, entitled Quiet Please - Loud Fireworks Frighten Animals - has been organised by the RSPCA to demonstrate low-noise fireworks, which are already available to the public.
The campaign group believes loud fireworks cause distress to animals and can even lead to injury and death when frightened animals bolt.
Now the society wants to see loud fireworks restricted to public displays and a maximum level of 95 decibels to be set for domestic fireworks. Currently levels can reach up to 120 decibels.
But Helen Briggs, of the RSPCA, said the low-noise fireworks will still cause a bang.

May 12 2003, ic Birmingham, Blitz after teen hurt
Fire chiefs are spearheading a pilot scheme to clamp down on the increasing misuse of fireworks in the city.
West Midlands fire chiefs are joining forces with West Midlands Police, trading standards and city councillors to make Birmingham's streets safer during the fireworks season.
The pilot scheme for Birmingham follows a similar project launched in Liverpool known as Operation Good Guy - Responsible with Fireworks.
It comes just days after lawyers acting for Birmingham teenager Sarah Morris revealed they were considering a civil action against professional footballer Luke Rogers.
The 16-year-old was scarred for life by the 21-year-old Shrewsbury Town striker when he hit the teenager with a stray rocket near her home at Castle Bromwich.
He was ordered to pay £5,000 and complete 100 hours community service.
As part of the new scheme announced today retailers will be encouraged to join a voluntary code of practice limiting the sale of fireworks to between October 15 and November 6 for Guy Fawkes and between December 9 and 31 for New Year celebrations.
In return, traders who only sell in these periods and refuse to sell to under-18s will be rewarded with free newspaper advertising as approved firework sellers.
Birmingham's scheme is being led by station officer Mick Norton, of Hay Mills Fire Safety Centre in Yardley.
He said: "Our aim is to cut down on the mis-selling and misuse of fireworks."

May 9 2003, ic Newcastle, Case dropped
An arson charge brought against a man after a firework went through a woman's bedroom window has been dropped.
Mark Brereton, 42, appeared before Newcastle Magistrates charged with arson with intent to endanger life last year. A blaze started when a rocket went through the 10th floor window of Evelyn McDade's tower block home at The Spinney, Newton Place, High Heaton, Newcastle. But the case against Mr Brereton, of Thropton Terrace, Heaton, was discontinued due to lack of evidence.

May 9 2003, The News & Star, WOMAN HURT BY FIREWORK TO GET VERDICT
A WEST Cumbrian girl who was partially blinded by a firework is expected today to discover if she has won her case against the legal representatives who failed to win her compensation.
Zoe Thompson was just 12 years old when a rocket firework hit her in the left eye at a bonfire night display in Workington in 1994.
She will hear the verdict in her negligence claim against both Kevin J. Commons and Co solicitors and Mr Simon Earlam, the barrister who pleaded her original case.
The hearing at Leeds County Court was due to end yesterday but the counsels will finish their closing speeches today.
The case stems from an incident in 1994 which left Zoe, now 21, with severely restricted sight in her left eye.
Mr Earlam and Mr Marcus Nickson, working on behalf of Commons and Co, handled her claim against Workington Town Bonfire Committee, which came to court in December 1995.
They lost the case when the judge decided that a defect in the rocket, which could not have been foreseen by the organisers, was to blame for the accident.
Michael Taylor, who is representing Ms Thompson, claims that Mr Earlam and Mr Nickson failed to fully consider an expert's report into the ballistics of the rogue firework, and that they were negligent in their handling of the case.
This is an allegation both defendants deny. They say they worked to the best of their ability on Ms Thompson's behalf.
The case continues.

May 8 2003, ic Coventry, Man, 20, killed by bomb in mouth
A 20-year-old man described as having a fascination with explosives and "anything that went bang" blew himself up after putting a home-made pipe bomb in his mouth and lighting the fuse, an inquest heard yesterday.
Kevin Barnes stuffed a 4in length of copper piping with gunpowder from a firework and appeared to relish showing it to visitors to his flat in Daventry.
He called it his "birthday candle" and told people he was going to set it off in the park "just to see what happened", the inquest, at Northampton Guildhall, was told.
But in the early hours of July 13 last year - two months before his 21st birthday - the warehouseman took the device and calmly sat on the sofa, sucking it with a smirk on his face while flicking a lighter as his petrified flatmates and girlfriend looked on.
The bomb then blew up, causing Mr Barnes serious head injuries and filling the room, in Joseph Priestley Court, with thick smoke.
He died later that day. Recording a verdict of accidental death, Northamptonshire Coroner Anne Pember said she was satisfied he had not intended to take his own life.
In the moments leading up to his death, the hearing was told, Mr Barnes was agitated, particularly by what he perceived as his girlfriend "flirting" with her ex-boyfriend.
He was heard to chant "grenade, grenade", laugh and say: "Tick, tick, boom".
He then retrieved the pipe bomb from a box where his flatmates had hidden it after becoming concerned.

May 8 2003, Leicester Mercury, IT'S TIME TO ACT OVER FIREWORKS
Earlier this year we, the public, were told that it would be illegal to let off fireworks when it is not Bonfire Night or Diwali.
So why do we at Aylestone have to put up with the fireworks noise going off on Saturday and Sunday evening? Once again my dog was terrified. Not only did he have to put up with the panic of the noise of fireworks but he had a major operation just five weeks ago.
All of this was making him more and more agitated.
How is Leicester City Council going to bring these people to justice?
M Aylestone.

May 7 2003 This is Leicestershire, NOISE PROBLEMS AT RECORD LEVEL
Record numbers of complaints are being made against noisy neighbours in Leicestershire.
Almost 3,000 complaints were made and more than 50 sound systems were confiscated last year in Leicester alone. The figures were revealed as the Mercury continues its week-long investigation into noise pollution and the effect it is having on our lives, health and well-being.
More than half the complaints received by Leicester City Council's noise nuisance teams are about loud music.
Other cases reported to them include shouting, banging, fireworks, car and burglar alarms, DIY and more than 500 complaints were made about dogs.
Ann Oliver, area team manager for Leicester City Council's domestic noise team, said: ''Noise can create havoc in people's lives.
"People can get so desperate that they turn to substances to help them sleep. It has a knock-on effect."
Ann and her team have the power to confiscate stereos and other equipment from repeat offenders.
They can also disable house and car burglar alarm systems. Council tenants can face being evicted for anti-social behaviour.
Officers, who have to undergo regular hearing tests, go out to people's homes to monitor noise levels before taking any steps against neighbours.
Last year, Leicester's noise nuisance team carried out 18 seizures on noisy neighbours.
Leicester Witness Cocoon offers help, support and advocacy to people who are vulnerable to crime or anti-social behaviour.
Since they began three years ago, they have dealt with 62 cases involving noise.
Denise Taylor, is a representative from Witness Cocoon.
She said: "It's a very underestimated issue."
She said one case involving a complaint about loud music led one neighbour to put his stereo on a timer 24 hours a day so it blasted out music every 30 minutes when he was out at work.
One man, from Leicester's West End, who asked not to be identified, said he had lived with noisy neighbours for the past six months.
He said: "The music is so loud that everybody in the house has to shout above it to be heard.
"We can sit and listen to their conversations downstairs while the stereo pounds out music from their bedroom way into the early hours of the morning."

May 7 2003, Express and Star, Boy, 15, burned on face in blast
A Bloxwich teenager suffered burns to his face after he picked up a firework as the device exploded.
The 15-year-old sustained two to three per cent burns to his face, hands and arm in the incident last night, said fire crews.
Fire fighters and paramedics were called to Smith House in Stoney Lane, Bloxwich, at 6.35.
Sub-officer Pardeep Raw, of Bloxwich fire station, said a water gel dressing was applied to the affected areas before the teenager was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital for treatment.
He said it appeared the teenager had picked up a catherine wheel which he believed had already exploded.
Fire service spokesman Jeremy Sharpe today warned people to be careful about handling fireworks and if they are not sure they have exploded should not pick them up.
He said: "We would urge people to exercise extreme caution."

May 5 2003, ic Huddersfield, Fireworks spark most noise fears for our MPs
A SURVEY has revealed that fireworks are the main noise concern for MPs.
The survey, carried out by the UK Noise Association, showed that half of MPs chose fireworks as their main noise concern.
But the concerns have been criticised by John Woodhead, of Huddersfield, a spokesman for the firework industry.
Val Weedon, secretary of the UK Noise Association, said: "MPs' mailbags have been full of letters complaining about firework noise.
"The problem is that fireworks are no longer reserved for special organisations. We now have a `fireworks season' that goes on for months."
Following the survey, the National Campaign for Firework Safety is calling for the noise level and explosiveness of fireworks to be reduced.
The NCFS says the findings the UK Noise Association report mirror those in their own survey, set for release on Noise Action Day on June 4.
The NCFS says animals suffer distress from loud fireworks. It wants a maximum noise level of 95 decibels to be set for them.
Currently, there is no legal upper limit for the noise from a firework.
The NCFS also says vibrations from large explosive fireworks - such as those at the Edinburgh Festival - damage stonework on old buildings.
But Kirkburton-based Mr Woodhead, the chairman of the British Firework Association, said: "The survey figures don't add up and this sort of thing doesn't help anyone.
"The industry is working very hard with the Government to control noise, nuisance and the abuse of fireworks. "
Mr Woodhead said a minimum noise level of 95 decibels would damage the industry, as only certain fireworks - such as sparklers - could be made.
He added that damage to buildings was unlikely from fireworks.
He also said the BFA had already reduced noise by stopping production of banging rockets and single tube bomb fireworks. It had also agreed a 120-decibel top noise level.

May 2 2003, ic Solihull, Family wants firework ban
THE family of a north Solihull girl injured by a firework have called for them to be banned from the general public.
Professional footballer Luke Rodgers was this week ordered to pay £5,000 compensation to Castle Bromwich girl Sarah Morris who was disfigured by a firework rocket he let off.
Shrewsbury Town striker Rogers, 21, was also ordered by a judge at Warwick Crown Court to do 100 hours community punishment.
Rodgers, of Stechford Road, Hodge Hill, had admitted maliciously causing bodily injury to 16-year-old Sarah Morris by 'explosion of gunpowder'.
In a statement read by Det Sgt Alastair Kelly the family thanked everyone for their support, especially staff at Sell Oak burns unit.
It continued: "From a young and vivacious teenager, Sarah's traumatic experience now means she no longer has the full confidence of being in public places, and has had the freedom normal teenagers taken away from her.
"We hope that what has happened to Sarah will at last result in the total ban of fireworks to the general public.
"We would not wish the experience or trauma of what happened to Sarah on another innocent child."
Rodgers apologised to Miss Morris when leaving the court saying it had been a complete accident.
He was back in action for Shrewbury the following evening, scoring their second goal in a 3-2 defeat to Carlisle which condemned the club to relegation from the Football League.

May 2 2003, The News & Star, 'SOLICITOR FAILED TO GET REPORT'
A SOLICITOR who lost a compensation case for a West Cumbrian girl who was left partially sighted by an exploding firework failed to seek an expert report into the accident, a court heard yesterday.
Despite evidence that a defect in a rocket might be to blame for the injury to Zoe Thompson, who was 12 at the time, solicitor Marcus Nickson did not investigate that possibility, the court was told.
Mr Nickson's firm Kevin Commons & Co, which has offices in Workington, Whitehaven and Carlisle, and Simon Earlam - the barrister he solicited to try the case - now face claims of negligence at Leeds County Court.
Ms Thompson, now 21, was hit in the left eye by a rocket at a bonfire night display in 1994, in Workington.
Michael Taylor, representing Ms Thompson, told the court that following the accident, an inquiry was carried out by Helen Sant, an environmental health officer with Allerdale Council.
She concluded that there may have been a latent defect in the fireworks.
Crutes, a company of solicitors acting on behalf of Workington Town Bonfire Committee, commissioned a report which also concluded that there could have been a defect in the firework.
Despite receiving a copy of this report, Mr Nickson decided not to enlist an expert of his own to pursue the possibility that a fault in the rocket might have been to blame. Ms Thompson's mother, Janet, told the court that she voiced her concerns over the need for an expert's report at a meeting with Mr Nickson but he dismissed her plea to seek expert advice.
Mr Nickson, a personal injury specialist, told the court: "I took the view, as I'm entitled to take in this case, that an expert was not needed."
The case continues.

May 1 2003, Leeds Today, Fireworks are too loud - and now that's official
A NEW study has confirmed what fed up Yorkshire residents already know fireworks are too loud.
The UK Noise Association asked MPs what they thought was the biggest noise problem " and half of them said fireworks top the list of complaints to them about noise.
The survey " carried out to mark Noise Awareness Day " was welcomed by campaigners.
Harrogate housewife Marjorie Johnson, who has spent the last five years fighting for tougher controls, said: "It's about time they started sitting up and taking notice.
"Fireworks can cause misery, especially where they are let off in the middle of the day or late at night.
"We don't want to stop fireworks, but it would be a great help to a lot of people if they brought in laws to reduce the noise levels."
Noel Tobin, director of the National Campaign For Firework Safety, said his organisation also backed the report.
He said: "This confirms the findings of our own survey, which is to be released in June. Noise from fireworks is a major issue " not only to humans, but to animals as well."
The Yorkshire Evening Post highlighted the problems of noise and anti-social behaviour surrounding fireworks last year.
Our Save The Fireworks For Bonfire Night campaign won praise from readers, the emergency services and MPs.
A Bill to lower noise limits and introduce a ban on the year-round sale of fireworks has been put forward by Scottish MP Bill Tynan.
It sailed through two readings in the House of Commons, and was debated at the Committee stage yesterday.
The RSPCA also supports noise reductions to protect animals.
A spokeswoman for the organisation said it fields hundreds of calls every year about pets that have become lost, injured or distressed due to the use of loud fireworks.
She said: "Fear can lead them to bolt and run into danger, such as an oncoming car, while others become lost or need to be sedated.
"The louder fireworks should be altered or removed from public sale to minimise the risk of causing distress."
grant.woodward@ypn.co.uk

May 1 2003, The News & Star, FIREWORK INJURY VICTIM SUES HER OWN SOLICITORS
A WEST Cumbrian woman who was left partially sighted after being hit in the face with a firework is suing the solicitors who handled her compensation case, which could have netted her an estimated 65,000 if it had proved successful.
Zoe Thompson, 21, was hit in the left eye after a rocket ricocheted off an ice-cream van during a public bonfire night display in Workington, Leeds County Court heard yesterday.
The accident in 1994 was the subject of a negligence claim which Ms Thompson brought against the organisers.
But now she has brought Kevin Commons & Co - the firm of solicitors who handled her compensation case - to court, claiming that they mishandled her representation.
Leeds County Court heard that Ms Thompson, who was just 12-years-old at the time of the accident, can now only distinguish between light and dark in her left eye as a result of the accident.
She already had poor vision in her right eye and now has only diminished sight.
Compensation
No public firework displays have been organised by Workington town council or any other public body in the town since the 1994 accident. Only small displays now take place locally but these are organised by private individuals, groups or businesses.
Ms Thompson's barrister, Michael Taylor, said that two days after the incident, the family approached Kevin Commons & Co regarding a possible compensation claim.
The company had successfully handled a previous claim for whiplash, which Ms Thompson had received as a passenger in her mother Janet's car.
Marcus Nickson dealt with the case and, after considering all the factors involved, estimated potential damages in the region of 65,000.
The insurance company Zurich, which acts for public authorities, advised Mr Nickson that the defendants should be the Workington Town Bonfire Committee.
Mr Nickson based his case on the fact that there had been very little safety precautions - there were no barriers or stewards to keep the crowd of more than 1,000 people away from the fireworks.
But, Mr Taylor argued, he failed to seek expert advice regarding the possibility that a defect in the rocket had led it to be fired towards the crowd.
Coutes, the firm of solicitors which represented the fireworks committee, even commented on the "breathtaking speed" with which Commons & Co acted.
Mr Taylor said that Nickson had made a quick application for a summary judgement as he believed that the defendants' denial of liability would not be a sufficient defence.
However, Coutes had taken the view that professional analysis would be important in the case and had commissioned an expert to examine the evidence.
Mr Nickson had refused to bring in an expert, even when Ms Thompson's mother voiced her concerns.
Reading from Mrs Thompson's statement, Mr Taylor told the court: "I did recall at one time when I saw Mr Nickson in his office, asking him if we needed an expert.
"Mr Nickson dismissed the idea and told me that he knew what he was doing. He made me feel quite stupid for asking."
Simon Earlam, the barrister appointed by Commons & Co to handle the claim, is also a defendant.
The case continues.