PEOPLE in Liden are calling for tighter regulation of firework sales after being woken up by the sound of loud explosions in the run up to Bonfire Night.

“I don’t live too far from Liden Lagoon and over the weekend there were massive explosions and it turned out someone had blown up the bins there," said Liden, Eldene and Park South councillor Bazil Solomon.

“I’ve been receiving a lot of messages about loud explosions, people’s dogs are being affected by it, we have a lot of elderly residents living in the area and some are still self-isolating because of Covid-19. This is the last thing they need."

Now he has launched a petition pushing for more effective rules over sales.

“People are up in arms, it’s just not on, we need law and order," he said. "The big ones that explode like bombs shouldn’t be allowed to be bought in shops. People are frightened, they’re scared, they don’t appreciate this happening at all.

“We don’t want shops to sell loud explosive fireworks and we don’t want them let off randomly at night. People should have permits for these specific ones. We don’t want them sold to just anyone with them being unmanaged and uncontrolled.”

So far 97 people have signed the petition.

Angela Hartell, of Conan Doyal Walk, has had enough after being woken up at 2am over the weekend when they were being let off.

She told the Adver: “I was woken up by the loud bang which set my dog off barking.

“It made me so angry, I’m not the only one, a lot of people in the community have had enough of it happening. A group of young adults were just letting them off in random areas around Liden.

“They should be considerate about other people. I don’t understand why they damaged the bins, they wouldn’t like it if someone damaged their property, so why damage the bins in the park?

"I don’t want fireworks to be banned I just want more restrictions in place.”

Former Swindon mayor Coun Kevin Parry discovered the damaged bins. He posted on Facebook: “Please can I ask that fireworks are not set off like this as it is dangerous, scares wildlife and pets. It has also damaged parish council property.

“I will be speaking to the police about patrols around the lagoon.”