I'M delighted to see the council is spearheading a campaign to persuade the government to tackle extended firework celebrations. Something really might get done at last.

As a result of growing public complaints, it will ask local MPs and other councils to back the move to cut the length of time that fireworks are on sale -- and place tighter restrictions on deafening "air bombs".

So they should. There was a lot of stupidity leading up to the event this year, and there were still rockets going up near my home at the weekend.

On a brighter note, Leigh the Round Table came up trumps with its annual charity fund-raising display at Leigh Centurions' ground.

One visitor who enjoyed the show was John Nolan, who took his family, two adults and three children, on a super £10 family night out.

But he asks: "Why was the Asda car park full of tight-fisted gits trying to watch for free, rather than give to a great cause? It's beyond belief.

"I suppose these spongers are the first to complain about 'nothing happening in Leigh'. From what I could see inside the ground, there were a few hundred people watching from the car park some with kids on their shoulders."

What a cheek. It's this sort of behaviour by a few that ends events like this for many.

However, there may be a smidgen of an excuse -- the Lowton area was hit by a power cut, so some residents, rather than sit in the dark without entertainment, headed for a 'free' show. But they could have coughed up.