FAMILIES planning to light fireworks in their gardens this Bonfire Night should steer clear and head to organised events instead, council bosses have warned.

Setting fireworks off on November 5 in gardens has always been a contentious issue, with pets and young children often scared of the close proximity to the loud noise.

In Chelmsford, the council’s Rocket O’Clock campaign aims to keep garden displays “to a reasonable time”, which it says is between 7.30pm and 8.30pm this Friday and Saturday.

The hour time slots is not a legal requirement, but a request.

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However, Carole Mulroney, Southend councillor in charge of environment, culture, tourism and planning, said the measures may not work in Southend.

She said: “It would be hard to implement the rules.

“If people are holding displays at home, I would ask them to keep them to a minimum and inform their neighbours about what they are doing.

“I would rather they head to larger organised displays, like we have on the seafront, it is much safer and more secure.

“We’re expecting a big turnout this weekend for the fireworks, and we had thousands down there for the parade and fireworks last weekend.”

This comes just days after a group of 30 teenagers lobbed fireworks at moving cars and inside a KFC restaurant in Benfleet during Halloween celebrations.

The Echo website asked readers whether fireworks should be restricted to just November 5.

Toni Keens, commented: “Yes only have them for a firework display. I have a Westie and he is petrified of them. Youngsters let them off at all times of the evening. They are getting louder and louder.”

Chris Irie, also commented: “Yes but it should be made compulsory that only licensed venues or event organisers can legally have a firework display but it should be made illegal for general public to get their hands on fireworks.”

Some families light bonfires in their garden. Ron Sverdloff, of Old Leigh, urges families to head to an organised event instead.

He added: “A lot of people light bonfires here, rather than fireworks, but we get a lot of youngsters setting the bangers off in the street.

“They need to know the dangers of doing that.

“It gets frustrating with the amount of noise they cause.”