Should fireworks be limited to one night?

I SELDOM agree with Professor Richard Dawkins, but I’m wholeheartedly with him over the matter of extended periods of fireworks being let off (Mail). This almost interminable nightly nuisance of explosions from October into January is distressing to dogs and other animals. How ironic that the ‘dogbo’ legislation potentially outlaws barking, even in private gardens, yet continues to permit nightly provocation — dogs bark when they feel threatened — which is a dozen times worse. It’s not only animals: many people are stressed and kept awake by this anti-social cacophony. Dr FRANK PALMER, Twickenham, Middx. CAN anyone name a British, nonreligiously observed annual cultural celebration that brings people together in a way in which nothing else does? That’s Bonfire Night. And thank goodness for Diwali. richard Dawkins has enjoyed a lifetime of fireworks, but now wants to change them for future generations. Many selfregulating and statutory changes occurred more than a decade ago, limiting firework noise, types available for sale, the price level of anything that contains noise and the raising of the legal age to buy fireworks. Gone are the days of the local newsagent selling to 16-year-olds and nuisance being caused. All that is left today is obscenely overpriced supermarket tat. As a former fireworks industry professional, let me make it clear: the majority of ‘professional’ displays are not the day jobs of those firing them. The industry is propped up by responsible, knowledgeable enthusiasts who are nearer to volunteers than employees. But if something goes wrong, you’ve got much bigger problems than a backyard display.

ROB FOTHERGILL, Halesowen, W. Mids. MY THEORY is we get ‘firework month’ instead of firework night as a result of divorce and separation. Displaced fathers have to take any slot to light the blue touchpaper for their offspring when it suits their former partner (and November 5 is normally off-limits).

R. J. DOE, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.