SIR: I see the silly season has arrived, again, meaning the advent of the nightmare of the firework season. Already, we read of rabbits dying because fireworks have been thrown into their hutches, people injured by fireworks being thrown off the tops of buses, elderly people being terrorised in their own homes. These things have beeen reported in the media. But then again nearer home, for the last three weeks myself and neighbours, have had our sleep disturbed, our animals distressed every night with still two weeks to go before November 5.

The police have been called out on numerous occasions. Fireworks have been pushed through letterboxes by the hooligan element. Gone are the days, just a memory, when Bonfire Night was enjoyed by people who knew how to conduct themselves in a peaceful way.

When, I ask, will there be some form of legislation?

Twenty years ago it wasn't needed because then there was good parenting. These hooligans, as I write this at 10.15 at night , are still marauding around. Do their parents ask what they are doing at this time of night? In the interests of the majority let parliament make a stand on this as every year it goes progressively worse. How much longer have we got to be terrorised? People are now sick and tired, and someone will take the law into their own hands. Perhaps that person might be me.

Pat Barnes

Birkenhills Drive

Ladybridge

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.