CIVIC chiefs at Eastleigh will be asked to back an RSPCA campaign to limit the noise of fireworks used by individual members of the public.

The RSPCA's Quiet Please campaign aims to set the limit at 95 decibels.

Eastleigh Council has been asked for its view on the move by the Department of Trade and Industry and on Thursday councillors will be urged to support the campaign.

They will be told that it is a bid to restore some peace to the winter night skies and to encourage people to go to large, organised firework displays.

If individuals want to celebrate November 5 in their back gardens, fireworks available to them should be low-key, small and quiet.

Steve Broomfield, regional manager of the Blue Cross animal welfare charity, has welcomed the move and spoke of the growing concern among animal charities over the impact of fireworks on pets.

He said: "The Blue Cross is currently chairing a coalition of animal welfare associations heavily involved in trying to change the ways that fireworks are used and sold to ensure they cause less nuisance and fear to pets.

"The coalition has to submit a response to government for pending legislation by July."

Eastleigh's executive councillor for the environment, Councillor Louise Bloom, is behind the council move to crack down on noisy fireworks.

She told the Daily Echo: "I am certainly not a killjoy but the situation is totally out of hand. It is just appalling.

"We have a huge number of complaints from September onwards. When we were kids fireworks were for one week. Now people seem to start in September and it just goes on and on."

She said the move was designed to protect pets, older people and children of a nervous disposition and added: "I think it is rather selfish of people. They are having fun but they are not thinking of others."