POLICE in the New Forest are poised to issue on-the-spot fines to anyone found terrorising people with fireworks.

Officers are vowing to make full use of new powers issued by the Home Office as part of a crackdown on antisocial behaviour.

Police will target people who flout the Firework Regulations Act 2004 by discharging rockets and other pyrotechnics between 11pm and 7am. Members of the public caught with high-powered display fireworks will also be hit in the pocket.

Offenders will be served with an £80 fixed penalty and anyone refusing to pay will face an increased fine of £120 or court action.

This follows a spate of incidents last year, when residents complained that fireworks were deliberately aimed at houses in New Milton and other towns.

Residents also claimed that the New Forest's ponies had been left traumatised by the irresponsible use of fireworks.

Members of the Commoning Animals Protection Society have called for the Forest to be made a "Quiet Firework Zone" to control noise levels.

Now, as Bonfire Night approaches, police and council chiefs have vowed to prevent a repeat of last year's problems.

Goff Beck, the district council's Cabinet member for crime and disorder, said: "Fireworks can be fun but in the wrong hands they can make people's lives a misery.

"They can cause harassment, intimidation and in the worst cases serious harm.

"New measures have been introduced to reduce the misuse of fireworks in the run up to November 5 and additional police powers will help people feel safe and more secure in their communities."

Meanwhile, the RNLI is urging yachtsmen in Lymington and other sailing centres not to use flares as substitute fireworks during Guy Fawkes night celebrations.

An RNLI spokesman said the problem was increasing each year, possibly because the festivities were no longer restricted to one night.

He added: "Each year RNLI crews called out to alarms caused by revellers using flares to light up the night sky."