A TOTTINGTON animal lover is going national with her campaign to restrict the use of fireworks.

Mrs Marlene Healey was so incensed by people letting off fireworks for weeks before and after Guy Fawkes night that she formed STAND (Save The Animals from Needless Distress).

She claimed that her two Staffordshire bull terriers were left "frantic with fear" by ear-splitting fireworks in the run-up to bonfire night.

Mrs Healey, of Scobell Street, has collected 4,000 signatures and now feels the time is right to seek support across the country.

Bury people can help her by signing petitions tomorrow when she has a stall at the Princess Parade end of Kay Gardens.

Mrs Healey has enlisted the support of Bury MP David Chaytor, who will be joining her on the stall tomorrow. She said: "The campaign has snowballed since I launched it last year, the phone hasn't stopped ringing. It's not just for the sake of animals, lots of people are fed up with the random use of fireworks."

Originally, Mrs Healey wanted to see fireworks used only on November 5 at organised displays, but will accept their use between, say, October 31 and November 11.

Mr Chaytor said: "There is widespread and increasing concern about the safety aspects of fireworks and the noise and distress caused over a long period in October and November.

"There's a good argument for limiting firework sales to a certain period of the year.

"I'm happy to support her campaign, although we have to accept that this year is not the best to improve the regulations because there are going to be lots of displays as we approach the Millennium."

Mr Chaytor added: "If enough people add their voice to the calls for greater safety and a shorter sales period then, in time, we could succeed in changing the regulations."

Anyone who wants to find out more about Mrs Healey's campaign can phone her on Tottington 2550 or write to the STAND Campaign, PO Box 115, Bury BL8 3FQ.

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