The death of Champagne, the stallion who broke his leg and had to be destroyed when he took off in fright at the sound of explosions caused by fireworks (The Argus, November 6), calls into question the entire fireworks season surrounding November 5.

I was in a house last Monday evening where a little dog was terrified by the loud explosions. It was tragic to behold the look of terror in his eyes and to hear his frenzied barking.

Not only animals but also many elderly and not so elderly people are frightened by the explosions from fireworks. If they have serious heart conditions, this could be fatal.

The use of fireworks should be strictly controlled to public displays in town parks, well away from houses.

Even here, the use of fireworks with loud bangs should be discontinued. All other fireworks, particularly in back gardens, should be banned.

Why should the animal kingdom, including humans, be subject to terror to keep a tradition alive which belongs to more barbarous times? It certainly has nothing to do with good religion.

Guy Fawkes was involved in the Gunpowder Plot for religious, not political, reasons. Nor was the cruel punishment meted out to him in accordance with good biblical ethics.

After all, King James and his predecessor Elizabeth I, both Protestant sovereigns, hanged Congregationalists and other Protestants who did not agree with their religious settlements.

For the sake of all animals and those of us who want a quiet life, let's see an end to fireworks.

-Rev John Webster, Gleton Avenue, Hove