I am prepared to accept that a considerable amount of skill goes into the creation of public firework displays.

I realise that fireworks have a long history and considerable significance in world culture.

I know that I am more likely to be hit by a car than die as a result of an accident involving a firework.

My objection to this campaign is that it doesn't really take into account the realities of current firework use.

I live in a west London suburb which (I believe) benefits from the presence of a large Asian (as in Indian and Pakistani) community. Unfortunately, during Diwali, if you are a cat owner this means that you are obliged to watch your pet cower in fear as one loud bang after another drowns out conversation and the TV every night for about two weeks. Diwali is just before Bonfire Night, and everyone has to have their own Diwali celebration. Public displays don't count.

In addition I have to take into account the fact that some children gain access to fireworks for negative purposes. I have seen small boys throwing fireworks under cars, knowing that adults are afraid to confront them in case they are accused of molesting them. Every year there are cases where someone's family pet is tortured or murdered with these things. Last week an 81 year old woman in my area was almost burnt alive after a very large firework (that should not have been available to an unauthorised person) was set off in her porch. She is bedridden and was lucky to survive. These large fireworks sound like mortars (very frightening if you are not expecting them) and were supposed to have been banned but it seems that you can get anything if you have the money or contacts. I can't help wondering if they would continue to behave in this way if they were also expected to clean up the cat piss that I have to deal with as a result of their activities.

There was a time when fireworks were available to the public for a short time every year so that they could let a few off in the back garden. Pet owners were advised to keep their animals indoors and there were public safety films on the TV telling you to keep your fireworks in a metal box. Fireworks are now available all year round and there seems to be a reluctance to warn children about the dangers in case we frighten them too much.

I now believe that if we must have firework displays they must be run by a licensed person and that they should be limited to a few specific nights every year. This would give pet owners and anyone who finds the noise unbearable an opportunity to be somewhere else.

There is one other issue related to this which is never mentioned. At a time when we face an increased risk of terrorist activity why are we able to purchase what are effectively detonators that could be attached to explosive materials?