We love seeing people enjoying themselves and celebrating the New Year in and we don’t have a problem with folks letting off fireworks at midnight, but surely 10 minutes is enough?

Unfortunately it’s a shame that there are those few – you know who you are – selfish people who seem to get a turn on by letting off fireworks that go on, well after midnight, and carrying on for almost an hour, with no regard to others who have animals in the family.

Many of us have pets – dogs and cats – which are terrified of the loud bangs from the fireworks.

On New Year’s Eve one of our dogs was so scared he began hyperventilating and shaking so much we thought he was going to have a heart attack. We were really worried about him.

There was nothing we could do except hold him tight and try to console him.

The people in a neighbouring garden whooped and yelled at their rockets, regardless of anyone else around them.

My wife called over to them to tell them they are frightening the animals but they just jeered and laughed back at her.

That’s when I lost it and decided enough is enough. Regrettably, they got an earful from me, sure enough, and that’s really sad because, what is supposed to be a time of celebration and goodwill, it just went sour.

Unbelievably, they said we had ruined their evening. “Oh, diddums,” I said.

Because it would have been more than their evening I’d have ruined if our dog had died of fright.

If they had let their fireworks off when the clock struck midnight, for a quick blast of fun, that would have been fine and there would not have been an issue.

We always get along with our neighbours and have many good friends in the town, but some people are so arrogant, I guess they’re just not worth the effort.

The law states that on New Year’s Eve fireworks are allowed until 1am. That’s the only time of the year when that can happen. Any other time, the shut off point is midnight.

Some people were letting their silly little bangers and rockets off until at least 1.30am – so they broke the law.

I’m amazed that, in a time when we are faced with the prospect of terrorists blowing us up, even in a small place like Dartmouth, that fireworks are allowed in built-up areas.

In Northern Ireland private fireworks have been banned, maybe that law should apply to the rest of the UK?

We are not killjoys, by any means and we enjoy the seasonal spirit of good cheer and harmony, but we do get hacked off by those who blatantly don’t care about anyone else.

So, it’s happy New Year to everyone, except… you know who you are!

S Gilmore

Crowthers Hill, Dartmouth