The committee exploring whether to amend the island’s firework laws has heard that they need tightening.

Set up by Tynwald in February, the committee chaired by Daphne Caine (Garff), was created by the last motion of David Cretney before he retired.

The committee heard first from Judith Corrin, whose petition calling for the banning of private firework shows led to the committee being established. She said that in November last year, a neighbour organised a bonfire and firework display which left her animals, two horses and three donkeys, traumatised.

She said how despite trying to get her animals into a barn and playing a loud radio, the fireworks left one horse ’dripping in sweat and panicked’ and a young donkey ’very upset’.

In just under seven weeks, her petition reachedmore than 800 signatures calling for either a ban on the public sale of fireworks or limiting rural displays to ’silent fireworks’.

Mrs Corrin said silent fireworks do not exist, they are just quieter.

The committee also heard from Stuart Hamer, the owner of Galaxy Fireworks.

He explained the company primarily provides professional displays for private events and government departments.

Mr Hamer said most of the shows he organises are outside of town and not within the permitted period either side of November 5 and December 31.

He advertises the events both in The Courier and on social media.

’You can’t have a surprise firework display in the Isle of Man anymore’, he said.

Mr Hamer said restricting events in rural or urban areas is not something he would support, either personally or professionally.

But he did recommend shortening the permitted period for setting off fireworks without a permit and banning sales and use to anyone under 21.