Dear Fido, Chester and Brecon (Letters, November 14, 19 and 25). I was very sorry to read about the bad experiences you had in the run-up to November 5 and afterwards.

Although the number of injuries from fireworks to human beings seems to be declining each year, there are still unthinking people who do not consider their effect on animals.

They should, not just because it is wrong to use fireworks to frighten animals but also because anyone who does it deliberately faces a fine of up to £5,000 or six months imprisonment under the Protection of Animals Act 1911.

However, the real problem is not deliberate cruelty but thoughtlessness.

In 1997, new restrictions were brought in about the sale of powerful fireworks and the Government has negotiated a voluntary code of practice that fireworks should only be sold three weeks before November 5 and for a few days afterwards.

A number of us in Parliament of all parties are calling for still stricter controls on the sale and use of fireworks.

-David Lepper, Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament, Brighton Pavilion