Animal lovers have called on the Government to restrict the use of fireworks due to the distress it causes to dogs.

A petition, supported by the RSPCA which asks for fireworks displays to be banned on all but four days a year, has been signed by over 100,000 people.

The charity says it has received almost 1,500 calls from worried owners in the past five years reporting how unnerved their dogs had become.

The calls have increased by more than 50 per cent during the same period, from 255 in 2011 to 386 last year.

The petition, which will be debated by MPs on June 6, suggests that private fireworks displays could be allowed on four days of special religious or cultural significance: November 5, New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali.

This would mean families are not be allowed to host firework parties at weekends around Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night when November 5 fell on a weekday.