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These devastating pictures show how dangerous fireworks can be to some animals.

They show the lifeless carcass of Solo - a horse who tragically who ran himself to death after being spooked by pyrotechnics.

His devastated owner Fiona Hohmann from Murton, Swansea, has now spoken to WalesOnline warn others as bonfire night celebrations get underway.

In North Wales, a number of planned fireworks display are taking place this weekend although some have been postponed by the looming threat of a possible storm.

Fiona, 58, was called by a concerned neighbour on Sunday morning after finding him in agony.

Mrs Hohmann said: “The field where Solo is kept is off Vensland, near Bishopston Road. On Sunday morning I had a call from a neighbour and immediately I knew something was wrong so I went straight to the field.

“I knew Solo was dying. It was heartbreaking to see.

“I don’t want to spoil people’s fun and on Bonfire night you can prepare for fireworks and just get on with it. A week after bonfire night, fireworks should not be allowed to take place. How was I supposed to know that a display would be going off?

“I know first hand just how scared Solo is of fireworks, on bonfire night I locked him inside his stable and I stayed with him until midnight to calm him down.

“On Saturday night he was alone and he was able to run loose on two fields.

“When the vet arrived they said that they were left with no choice but to put him down. They said Solo was in so much pain that he would have died within the next hour.

“The vet told me that he twisted his gut in panic from the noise. He was suffering alone for 14 hours. He had galloped round the field so much all the grass was all chewed up.

“I feel terrible that he suffered all night alone, there was just nothing that I could do.”

She heard the fireworks display at about midnight but didn't know just how large it was.

“I was watching television so I couldn’t hear the fireworks, I just heard some at midnight but I thought that was it. I have now found out that the display was huge. My neighbour said that you could tell the person had spent a lot of money on the fireworks.

“This would never have happened if we knew the display was taking place.

“My heart is truly broken. Myself and my husband are devastated. It’s bad enough losing an animal to illness or disease but this was just unnecessary distress and pain.”

Phil Walker, from Gowerton, trained the horse and was also upset by the sudden death.

He said: “Solo orginally came from a bad background, I trained him for a few months before Fiona bought him.

“He was deeply loved and he will be missed. He was a happy horse and he loved the area.”

A spokesman for RSPCA Cymru said: “We are very saddened to hear about this incident and our thoughts are with the horse’s owner.

“Many animals, of all shapes and sizes, find fireworks frightening, and it is important for people to remain responsible and bear in mind that animals may become confused, distressed and can even go into shock when fireworks are let off in or around their immediate surroundings.

“Many animals have very acute hearing and suffer greatly from stress as a result of firework displays each year. Not only this, but fireworks can also in some circumstances be extremely dangerous and can result in serious injuries or even death to an animal.

“We would always advise that people should never set off fireworks close to any animal and wherever possible, people should tell their neighbours of any plans for a display in advance so that pet owners have time to effectively prepare and keep their animals calm and safe.

"In a situation where setting them off near animals and wildlife cannot be avoided, fireworks should be directed well away from any animals nearby and should attempt to cause the least disruption possible.

“If you find an animal that you think may be suffering or in shock as a result of fireworks please contact a local vet immediately for advice or, in the instance of a cruelty incident, please contact our national cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.”

For advice on how to keep your pets calm on fireworks night, see here.