Pet owners are calling for fireworks to be kept for professional displays after enduring weeks of seeing their animals in distress over loud bangs and explosions.

Louise Matchett from Walcot has a six year old Staffy-cross, Styx who spent 45 minutes shaking from fear on the bathroom floor after fireworks were let off last Monday afternoon.

She said: “There was an almighty bang and a fizz and he was just a trembling wreck for 45 minutes. He’s absolutely petrified of them. He pants and drools. Once he gets that terrified, you just can’t get through to him. If it was more predictable I can get him medicated and then he doesn’t have to be a gibbering wreck.”

Lesley Grace had to carry her poodle schnauzer cross Rusty home when he became so frightened he couldn’t finish his walk. “We were halfway round the walk, and some fireworks went off and I had to carry him back home,” she said.

“He’s not very light, he’s 12.5 kilos. But I had to put him in my coat and carry him home he was that scared.”

Rusty starts shaking when he hears the bangs and she has to cuddle him in her bed to calm him down. “It’s not nice watching him go through it. If people could see what they’re doing to the animals I don’t think they would let fireworks off like this.”

Lesley who has lived in the area for 30 years said she is normally ready for the fireworks on New Year’s Eve or bonfire night and keeps Rusty indoors.

She said: “I don’t want kids to miss out on the fun but they’re just going off too much at the moment. It’s every other day at the moment.”

Debbie Raynor, from Walcot has two family dogs, Daisy, a Cavachon and Polly, a Poochon who also react badly to fireworks.

“It’s particularly bad with Daisy. She starts panting, her heart’s going ten to the dozen. She tries to scratch the walls, and get inside cupboards because she is that terrified. It is so sad to watch.

“The point is you don’t know when they are going to go off, so you can’t keep dosing the poor dog up just because you think there might be fireworks going off. It’s just inconsiderate. I dread fireworks every year because the animals are suffering.They ought to be kept for organised events only,” she said.

Bernadette Waddell’s 14 year old cat Misty was spooked last Sunday when fireworks went off suddenly.

She said: “There were quite a few load bangs which really frightened Misty. She was just asleep in the conservatory one minute and the next she was worried and scared.

“Don’t get me wrong, I like fireworks. I’ve often been to the country ground. I’m not against fireworks but to me they should only be sold for an organised display. Individual people shouldn’t be allowed to buy them,” said Bernadette, who has signed several petitions to keep fireworks for professional displays only.

“It worries me that Misty will run off if she gets scared and won’t come back. I hate that to think she could be outside when someone is letting off fireworks,” she added.

Misty usually spends all night hiding behind the sofa on Fireworks Night.

“She’s quite timid anyway and it’s not nice watching her going through that,” Bernadette said.

“It’s not fair on the animals. They don’t understand. But at least with a professional display, owners can be prepared and keep our animals inside,” she added.

The call came as MPs debated the sale of fireworks and people in Liden complaining of disturbed nights launched a petition demanding tighter regulation.