I am writing in response and sympathy to the letter from M I Lucas (November 28). I also tried to do the responsible thing by keeping my cats indoors on Bonfire Night.

I then took a flask of hot tea and a deckchair and spent a rather cold and uncomfortable night in the field where I keep my horses, knowing that they would be spooked by fireworks that night.

I there until past 11pm when I was sure the fireworks had finished and both horses were OK.

However, three nights later, I had a phone call from a concerned neighbour of the field to inform me that fireworks were frightening my horses and they were panicking.

I got there as fast as I could but, alas, too late. One horse was injured and the other was still bolting around in a distressed state. After several vets’ visits and treatment totalling more than £1,300, the horse had to be destroyed as her kneecap was too badly smashed to mend, this occurring when she fell.

Beside the financial impact, the emotional toll of losing our much- loved horse has broken the hearts of myself and my family alike.

How can it be right to extend what is meant to be firework night to firework month at the expense of the welfare of others? For those who do not enjoy it (animals, the elderly and those who relish peace and quiet), it is an absolute nightmare.

And why, once a year, is it acceptable for everybody to carry and ignite explosives? I wish Health & Safety would intervene in this as they seem to do in everything else.

Carol Evans, Bremhill, Calne.