FIREWORK-mad Paul Read has promised to give his neighbours a happy - and quiet - start to the New Year after sparking months of complaints by setting off rockets.

Mr Read, who in the past joked he would not stop letting off fireworks until he split the atom, says he has finally given in to complaints from fed-up residents.

The father-of-two fuelled rows with his neighbours at his former home in Bransford Road, St John's, when it was claimed he crept into their gardens to indulge his love of pyrotechnics at all hours of the day and night.

He gave them a Christmas to remember last year when he set off a 25 Air Bomb Repeater - claiming he was aiming at Santa for being late with his presents.

Mr Read, who has moved into Arrowsmith Avenue, St John's, marked Christmas Day this time round with another 3am explosion.

One of his angry neighbours, 68-year-old Bill Toorish, said he was "sick to death" of the bangs.

"He has let off fireworks day and night since he moved in eight months ago," said Mr Toorish.

"Students in the area say he makes their computers jump and the explosions upset people's dogs.

"I have high blood pressure and this is doing me no good."

Several complaints have been made to Worcester City Council's environmental health department, a spokesman confirmed.

Mr Read says he has admitted defeat - even with New Year's Eve in sight.

"I've received complaints which cost me two jobs," said Mr Read, who runs Ultimate Block Paving from his home. "There won't be any fireworks going off from my house this New Year's Eve."

But Mr Toorish said he thought Mr Read was incapable of giving up his pyrotechnics.

"There'd be more chance of winning the Lottery than him keeping his word on this," he added.