Bonfire Night: Legal rules around fireworks change three times this week - what you need to know
With Bonfire Night falling on a Thursday this year, and Diwali landing in the same week, it means rules around fireworks are being relaxed.
Many families celebrating Bonfire Night may decide to move their events into the weekend, and with Diwali taking place on Sunday, it means the skies above Yorkshire are set to be lit up with fireworks for prolonged periods this weekend.
But it does cause some unusual changes in laws around when people are allowed to set off fireworks - with the timings changing three times over the course of four days.
The legal cut off for fireworks to be used on private property is 11pm, but that extends to midnight on November 5.
This year, Bonfire Night falls on a Thursday, meaning fireworks can be set off until midnight, but with many people holding events on Friday or Saturday, home interiors firm Hilarys are reminding people that limit falls back to 11pm on November 6 and 7.
And with Diwali falling on Sunday (Nov 8) the limit is extended until 1am.
Anyone letting off fireworks outside those hours faces a £90 on-the-spot fine, rising to up to £5,000 and six months in prison if prosecuted.
Party noise is a separate matter, and the 11pm line is still fixed for general noise from parties.
Between 11pm and 7am, councils can issue formal warning notices under the Noise Act 1996.
Ignoring one can lead to a fixed penalty of up to £110, or a fine of up to £1,000 on prosecution. Fireworks set off outside the curfew are a police matter instead, and can be reported on 101.
Victoria Robinson, product manager at Hillarys, said: “Most noise disputes between neighbours are genuinely unintentional. The person often has no idea how far the sound is travelling.
“The other consideration is the 28.5 million dogs and cats in the UK. A lot of households will have spent the evening managing anxious animals - keeping them settled indoors, closing windows, trying to block out noise.
“For those genuinely struggling with sleep, the practical steps matter too. Heavy curtains, a well-fitted blind and closing the bedroom window can make a real difference to how much external noise reaches you in bed. Bedroom acoustics are something most people never think about until a situation like this.”