Residents across the borough have pleaded with neighbours celebrating Diwali – and Bonfire Night – to curtail the fireworks.

A number of people have taken to social media – including Nextdoor – in recent days complaining about the noise running well past midnight.

Complaints centre on disturbed sleep, pollution from the explosives and smoke, and concerns for sleeping babies and frightened pets.

The current law states that you must not set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, except for Bonfire Night, when the cut off is midnight; and New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when the cut off is 1am.

Diwali is the Hindu Festival of Light and is celebrated around the world with fireworks.

Diwali fell on Monday – October 24 – and there are concerns that fireworks celebrations will now continue through this week on to Halloween and then Bonfire Night.

The religious festival symbolises the victory of good over evil and commemorates Lord Ram's return to the Ayodhya kingdom after a 14-year exile.

There are calls for a time-limit banning fireworks after 10pm, while some are supporting a petition calling for a complete ban on sales to individuals with a switch to organised displays.

Residents argue that this would apply to all celebrations, including Diwali and Bonfire, and is not designed to discriminate against any community.

One critic complained: "Diwali is meant to bring knowledge over ignorance, as well as light. Pity those who are letting off fireworks in residential areas and well into the night are playing ignorant."

Another said: "Fireworks everywhere! I can understand enjoying a pretty fireworks display for whichever occasion you prefer but… until 3am?

"My dogs are terrified of the sounds and I have ASD and the sounds give me bad anxiety too. On top of that it's a weekday! Please have some respect and don't go all night."

A third said: "After Diwali we have November 5th, Xmas and New Year … I hate the noise and would welcome silent fireworks with beautiful colours but don't think it will ever happen."

One person responded to the criticism, saying: "For those complaining about fireworks on Diwali, I agree that we should have a cut off time - Max 9pm or 10pm.

"I would like to draw your attention to your own hypocrisy!

"For those complaining about pollution, Are the Guy Fawkes and New Year fireworks somehow non-polluting? And of course 'green'!

"For those with dogs, where on earth do you stuff them on New Years when the fireworks start at midnight?"