Your item Firework Fury (Times Series, October 29) quotes Brent Council as admitting "there are no specific laws relating to firework noise".

In fact, from December 31, 1997, it has been illegal to sell all categories of bangers in this country. As public feeling against this annual month-long torment is now so strong, I am amazed how few people are aware of this very important change in the law.

Brent and Harrow trading standards officers are responsible for controlling sales of illegal fireworks in this area and I believe have been busy checking local shops licensed to sell fireworks.

They tell me, however, illegal bangers are on sale in Southall and plenty of these seem to have arrived in Kenton in the past few weeks.

Guy Fawkes Night used to mean just that: only one night. Diwali is a five-day festival, and doesn't the word mean "Festival of Light", not loud bangs from rockets directed at neighbouring houses?

Margaret Booth, Totternhoe Close,

Kenton

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.