HAVING spent much of the past week (if not fortnight) trying to coax our terrified dog out from under the stairs, I have every sympathy with the letter from Kate Mucklow, of Cradley.

I should have thought that for anyone planning a firework display, to inform their near neighbours of the time and date would be the least they could do.

Personally, I wish more people would support large organised displays. It was pleasing to see a record 2,000 people at the event organised by Ledbury Round Table. If it could rely on that kind of support every year, there would be more money for charity and for bigger and better displays.

How much better it would be, at least for our pets, to have a few large and memorable displays rather than a fortnight of people letting fireworks off in their back gardens.

IT was pleasing to see 78 per cent of the people of the north-east rejecting the idea of a regional assembly.

Such an assembly might be better value for money if what the Government was doing was to genuinely devolve power down to the regions but history suggests it is more likely it would take decisions away from local government.

An all-appointed West Midlands Regional Assembly was actually set up five years ago. Since last year, it has been responsible for regional planning, which is an important role.

But whether it requires an assembly of 100 members and an annual budget of £1.6m to carry out this role is open to question.

NICK HOWELLS