Out of season displays: People will put up with a lot of noise around Nov 5th or New Year but at any other time they can be pretty intolerant. It's a simple matter of loud bangs not mixing with sleeping babies, children or pets. No-one half a mile away is going to know your Gran is 80 years old today when they hear all the loud bangs especially if it's in the middle of March.

Built up areas: It's courtesy to notify your neighbours (that means anyone within earshot, not just the people directly next door!) if you plan to let off fireworks. It's also a useful pre-emptive measure against complaints because if you make a lot of noise, people can rally around against you pretty quickly. However in a built up area you may have dozens or even hundreds of people within ear shot. So if it's impractical to tell everyone who may hear, and if it's nowhere near Guy Fawkes, keep the noise down as much as possible. We've heard of people complaining after just one firework, so take note!

Guy Fawkes: You're excused for making noise on one night a year, Guy Fawkes. Make the most of it. For the other 364 days in the year you'll have to watch the noise level.

Displays for children: Younger kids especially can be frightened by a nonstop barrage of bangs. It's not too bad in a large display because the distance is enough that kids see the flash and are warned of incoming bangs (fingers in the ears time!). However in the garden fireworks can sound that much louder. It's sad to see terrified kids - escorted by a parent - disappear indoors during the fireworks after you spent hours setting up. Use bangs sparingly if there are a lot of young kids watching and make sure any bangs have a pretty effect associated with them.

Displays for older people, eg. sheltered homes: As with children, this age group generally (but not always) prefers pretty effects to loud bangs. Ask them first. Some older people can be quite frightened by very loud fireworks and are more appreciative of a creative, imaginative approach. Bear in mind too, bangs and other sounds may be lost on people in this age group - and many spectators would watch from indoors anyway.

Displays near animals: Animals hate loud noises On Guy Fawkes responsible pet owners know to keep their pets in but at any other time they won't. Potential worry to animals should not be underestimated even if you're not an animal lover because every terrified cat or dog has an angry owner in tow. If you live in a built up area and you can't warn everyone consider keeping the noise down. For displays in the country, check to make sure there are no nearby farms or animal centers (e.g. kennels) and if there are, warn them.

Late night displays: In the summer you can't display until as late as ten o'clock when it gets totally dark. This is bad news for an out of season display. If it's an official or public event (e.g. a carnival or fair) you have an excuse, otherwise the later the display, the less noisy it should be. Anything too loud in a private display after 9pm could run the risk of trouble, after 10pm is pushing your luck and after 11pm is illegal. If you have to include some noise, keep it all together (e.g. the finale). Sunday evenings are seen as a bad time for a lot of noise late evening, whereas Friday and Saturday isn't as bad.

Rockets: Virtually all rockets start with a bang. This is a side effect of the payload being launched clear of the casing and there's no way around this. For a totally silent display, avoid rockets, but if you can afford a bit of noise try some category two ones which are fine for small gardens and won't be heard miles away (although the bang can still be quite loud); very few are true "no bang" rockets. Avoid a lot of category three rockets which can create huge bangs however one or two (e.g. in the finale) won't do any harm, space permitting. With rockets it's a case of bigger and better effects starting with a bigger bang. Stay clear of screech rockets whose only purpose is to make a lot of noise, and maroon or signal rockets.

Fountains: These will form the back bone of any quiet display. Fountains eject sparks from ground level (or higher if mounted on a post or platform) and are generally very safe - and quiet. A pair or a line of these, let off together, create a stunning wall of sparks. If you can allow more noise, some fountains offer crackles and whistles too, without banging. Be warned though, many labels don't warn of the noise and some crackling ones are quite loud! Make sure you read our reviews first. Strobes and ground based flares will add a bit if interest without adding to the sound level.

Wheels: Another useful set-piece for the quieter display, these spin and create sparks. We prefer fountains which offer more scope and just as good sparks, but the audience more often than not expects - and appreciates - a good old Catherine wheel. Be careful because some screech or whistle so check before you buy.

Cakes and candles: The main part of many displays but don't get caught out by noisy ones! Truly quiet cakes are harder to find, because you cannot rely on cakes which say "ejects stars" to be quiet. Check out our reviews first of all, and have a look at the video clips. In catalogues, look for cakes described specifically as being "no bangs" or suitable for a low noise display, or pick from low noise ranges. If you want to create a little noise but no outright bangs, look for cakes that have interesting sound effects such as whistles, screeches and crackles.

Mines: Many mines are noisy, particularly ones containing airbombs. However fountain start mines can create some very pretty effects without breaking the sound barrier, again our reviews carry descriptions where we know the exact effect. Colourful mines full of pretty stars and glitter can create a momentarily stunning effect.

Start with sparklers or glow products. Sparklers are a great icebreaker. Get everyone outside and give them all a sparkler to get them in the firework mood without making a noise. A good tip with kids is to mix up various types (colour, gold etc.) so they have the surprise of finding out which one does what! Adults love sparklers too! Please use sparklers safely. A totally safe alternative to sparklers are glow products such as light sticks or necklaces. These are now very cheap to buy, are nontoxic, will not burn (they do not even get hot), come in many colours and the children can take them home afterwards - they last up to eight hours!

Have a bonfire or BBQ. Always goes down well, but please, have the bonfire AFTER the display and AFTER you have cleared away all the used (and unused) fireworks. If you have a BBQ, have it at the other end of the garden to the fireworks. A bonfire, along with sparklers, can help to create an atmosphere that might otherwise be lacking in a totally quiet display.

If you do have some louder fireworks to use, keep them for the end and let them off quickly, to keep the disturbance down to a minimum.

Display when it gets dark, not at 10pm if it gets dark at 8pm - that's just going to annoy people if you make a noise.

See the Noisy section for advice for dealing with complaints and other noise considerations.