Ministers weigh restricting loud fireworks to professional users, threatening the end of backyard Bonfire Night displays

Two petitions each exceeding 180,000 signatures helped pressure the government into consulting on whether the loudest fireworks should be confined to professional displays, with the Department for Business, Innovation and Trade closing that consultation earlier this month. The RSPCA alone submitted over 51,000 responses and described public demand for reform as "overwhelming."

Animals killed in incidents linked to backyard fireworks include a red panda cub at Edinburgh Zoo and a dachshund in North Yorkshire.

A survey of 2,000 pet owners found 58% favour restricting fireworks to organised public events, while 57% reported that sudden loud bangs cause persistent anxiety in their animals.