Fireworks sale ban petition is signed by thousands in the West Midlands

The petition, which has been signed by about 150,000 people across the country, wants only organised displays to be approved to help prevent injuries and protect animals.

But in a response, the Government said it had no plans to limit the sale and use of fireworks any further.

With new year celebrations set to see the sky alight tonight with fireworks, there has been a rush to sign the petition in recent days.

Nearly 1,200 people signed the petition in Staffordshire, with 201 in Stafford, 288 in Cannock Chase, 281 in South Staffordshire and 248 in Lichfield.

There were 401 supporters in Wolverhampton, while nearly 500 backed the campaign in Walsall and more than 560 in Dudley and Wyre Forest.

Numbers for areas to have signed the petition in their numbers include 270 in West Bromwich, 198 in Halesowen and Rowley Regis, 180 in Stourbridge and 99 in Warley.

Despite tens of thousands of responses, the matter will not be debated in Parliament, as it was previously discussed in early June.

Mike Old, who created the petition, wrote: "Every year people are hurt, burnt, maimed and even lose their lives through accidents involving fireworks.

"Every year people are terrorised by the misuse of fireworks. Every year animals are hurt and traumatised by fireworks."

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: "The government recognises the concerns raised about the use of fireworks by the public, particularly the potential distress caused by the use of noisy fireworks to pets, livestock and the public, and injuries caused by accidents and the misuse of fireworks.

"Many individuals enjoy being able to hold private fireworks displays at home, and have a sensible and responsible attitude to their use. Indeed, the majority of the public who use fireworks do so in a safe and considerate way – it is only an anti-social minority that uses them dangerously and inconsiderately."

While members of the public can hold private firework displays at any time of the year, they are subject to strict curfews which prevent fireworks being used after 11pm, except on a limited number of specific nights of the year around the traditional celebrations of November 5 when they can be used until midnight or New Year, Chinese New Year and Diwali when they can be used to 1am.

It comes as Staffordshire County Council urged people not to use sky lanterns as part of their New Year celebrations this weekend.

The council is reminding people that the lanterns are banned on all council land and property in light of the risk they pose to livestock.

County Councillor Gill Heath, cabinet member for the environment said: "The use of sky lanterns is popular around New Year, but many people aren't aware of the risks they pose to property and the misery they can cause to wildlife and farm animals.

"As well as being harmful to animals, the use of sky lanterns has also been criticised as a potential fire risk. "